I 


a 


i^  i  k±,. 


BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG, 


lotiiermel, 


|mr  oirfvl) 


ibilion  at 


TREMONjf'  ••TEMPLE, 


SiO'STOH 


ILAHELPHIA  : 


30  &  32  SOUTH-SEVENTH  STREET. 
7    ''***       - 


m 


PIC  T  U  R  E 


OF   THE 


piiiil©  oi  'fpeiijilmtg, 


Painted  by  P-  F.-  Rothermel§ 


j^Iow  on  Exhibition  at 


TREMONT    TEMPLE, 


PHILADELPHIA        '  . 

1  CO.,  ENCRAVERS  AND  PRINTERS,  30  &  32  SOUTH  SEVENTH  STREET 
1S71. 


'SBURG. 


. 


2*\v  .-7  //  VEST -eg* 


John. 

Mmw. 

-  i  New  Yurk 
67.     i 

•Mirt 
kton. 

71.     Prirata  Wartn,  lQ 

IT    faplOBloB  ofOi 

.  )     Mi  I 

i    kUnoea 
■i.  MoJa,  un,bu0-d  suff 


O^K.Lr. 


KEY  TO  ROTHERMEL'S  BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 


itjM, 


■ 


C 


;  &    fir  2%j  5  tull&la 


BATTLE   OF    GETTYSBURG. 


POSITION  OF  THE  TROOPS,  JULY  3,  1863. 

THE  better  to  understand  the  charge  and  repulse  of  Pickett's 
Division,  which  the  artist  has  endeavored  to  represent  in  this 
picture,  it  will  be  necessary  to  say  a  few  words  regarding  the 
position  of  the  contending  armies,  as  well  as  the  formation  of 
the  ground  over  which  the  battle  was  fought.  First,  then,  the 
Second  Corps  <  Hancock's)  occupied  that  part  of  the  line  of  battle 
known  as  the  left  centre,  od  the  gradual  declining  slope  of  Cemetery 
Hill  until  near  Little  Round  Top,  where  the  ground  becomes  quite  or 
nearly  level,  it  then  rises,  rather  abruptly,  to  the  crest  of  Little  Round 
Top  and,  with  a  valley  intervening,  culminates  in  Round  Top,  the 
extreme  left  and  key-point  of  the  position  of  the  Army  of  the  Union. 
The  observer  is  placed  at  the  left  of  Hay's  Division,  and  on  the  right 
of  Gibbon's  (the  central  Division  of  Hancock's  Corps).  The  stone 
wall,  in  the  middle  and  foreground  of  the  picture,  was  occupied  in 
part  on  the  left  by  a  portion  of  the  71st  P.  V.,  Col.  Smith.  A  low 
stone  wall,  nearly  perpendicular  to  the  first  named,  extended  out  some 
distance  towards  the  Emmettsburg  Road  to  an  angle,  and  thence  down 
towards  the  left,  just  in  front  of  a  clump  of  trees.  Nearest  to  the  angle 
or  right  of  this  wall  was  placed  the  remainder  of  Colonel  Smith's, 
71st  P.  V.,  together  with  two  guns  of  Cushing's  Battery.  On  the 
prolongation  of  this  wall  was  the  69th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers, 
commanded  by  Colonel  O'Kane,  and  reaching  to  the  left  of  the 
chimp  of  trees  in  the  centre  middle  ground  of  the  picture.  Then 
came  Hall's  Brigade,  then  Harrow's,  and  then  Caldwell's  Division  of 
the  Second  Corps.  Still  further  to  the  left,  toward  Round  Top,  was 
stationed  Doubleday's  "Division  of  the  First  Corps,  in  front  of  which 
and  the  line  of  Batteries  was  General  Stannard's  Vermont  Brigade ; 
(their  first  battle  and  gloriously  did  they  do  their  duty).  General 
Dana's  Brigade,  of  Doubleday's  Division,  in  line*  supporting 
Batteries,  and  then  General  Humphrey's  Division,  Third  Corps, 
(Sickle's)  in  rear  and  in  support  of  McGilvery's  Brigade  of  reserve 
artillery.  Further  to  the  left  and  somewhat  further  in  the  rear, 
De  Trobriand's  Brigade;  and  in  advance  of  the  line  occupied  by 
the  artillery,  was  placed  a  Brigade  of  the  Sixth  Corps  (Sedgwick.-  i. 


6 

The  remainder  of  the  Corps  being  massed  at  and  near  the  rear  of 
Little  Round  Top.  This  was  the  position  of  the  troops,  with  tin3 
exception  of  the  72d  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  Col.  Baxter  (wounded 
the  day  before),  and  now  under  the  command  of  the  late  Colonel 
Hesser,  in  reserve,  to  the  left  and  in  the  rear  of  the  clump  of  trees, 
where  the  ground  slopes  down  rapidly  for  a  short  distance.  The  gun 
in  the  left  foreground  represents  one  of  Arnold's  R.  I.  Batteries  run 
forward.  At  the  end  of  the  stone  wall,  near  the  middle,  is  seen  a 
part  of  Cushing's;  further  to  the. left,  Rorty's  and  others,  and  then 
McGilvery's  Brigade  of  reserve  artillery,  towards  the  slope  of  Little 
Round  Top. 

The  line  the  enemy  occupied  was  on  Seminary  Ridge,  on  the  right 
of  the  picture.  The  right  of  Longstreet's  Corps  extending  down  some 
distance  beyond  the  point  where  the  Emmettsburg  Road  crosses  the 
before  mentioned  Ridge,  somewhat  overlapping  the  extreme  Union 
left  on  Round  Top. 

The  enemy's  troops  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  on  this  Ridge, 
under  cover  of  the  hills  and  trees.  Pickett's  Division,  three  Brigades, 
Kemper  on  their  right,  Garnett's  in  the  centre  and  Armistead  on  their 
left,  which  was  supported  by  Pettigrew,  commanding  Heth's  Division 
(who  was  wounded  the  day  before),  and  Pender's  Division.  The 
right  supporting  column  was  lead  by  General  Willcox. 


The   following    is  an  Extract  from  JOHN  H.  B.  LATROBES'  "PINCH 
OF  THE  FIGHT,"  as  described  by  an  Eye  Wttness. 

(First  Published  in  the  Baltimore  American.) 

ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PINCH  OF  THE  FIGHT. 

"|QF  Friday's  fight  I  know  more.  Lee's  attack  was,  on  this  day,  on 
^->  what  is  called  the  left  centre,  and  mainly  took  place  between  the 
house  at  the  turn  of  the  horse  shoe  and  the  clump  of  trees.  This 
position  was  held  principally  by  the  Second  Corps,  the  second  brigade 
of  the  second  division  of  which,  under  General  Webb,  was  on  the 
right,  looking  over  the  valley  and  down  upon  the  Emmettsburg  road. 
Next  to  it  on  the  left  was  the  third  brigade,  (Hall's,)  the  first  brigade 
being  still  further  on  the  left ;  the  three  brigades,  forming  the  second 
division,  being  thus  in  line  on  the  crest.  If  you  bear  in  mind  my 
description,  you  will  see  now  that  a  fire  from  the  opposite  side  of  the 
valley  at  the  Second  Corps  (Hancock's,)  and  the  second  division  of 
it  (Gibbon's),  would,  if  it  ranged  further,  make  Meade's  headquarters 
a  hot  place,  and  also  the  house  where  the  officers  lunched,  as  well  as 
the  cemetery. 

My  knowledge  being  confined  mainly  to  the  second  division,  I  will 
not  pretend  to  say  much  about  anything  else,  for  the  reason  that  a 
soldier  in  battle  is  not  always  competent  to  describe  more  than  what 
passes  immediately  around  him  ;  nor  will  this  failure  on  my  part  be 
of  much  importance,  because,  with  the  fortunes  of  the  Second  Corps 
and  its  second  division,  the  fate  of  the  fight  was  closely  connected. 


Just  in  front  of  Webb*a  brigade,  and  a  little  way  down  the  slope 
towards  the  valley,  was  a  stone  wall,  and  to  the  left,  and  somewhat 
in  advance  of  the  stone  wall,  was  a  rail  fence  in  front  of  Hall's  brig- 
ade. This  wall,  and  fence  and  clump  of  tree3  were  the  features  of  the 
day,  lei  me  tell  you.  Away  to  the  left  was  the  Third  Corps,  1  think, 
and  on  the  right,  facing  Gettysburg,  the  Eleventh  Corps.  About 
what  took  place  on  the  right,  or  to  the  east  of  the  Gettysburg  road,  I 
know  Jttle  or  nothing. 

Now,  that  you  have  my  theatre  of  observation,  let  me  come  to 
what  took  place  on  it.  The  morning  of  the  3d  passed  quietly.  We 
had  heard,  as  a  camp  rumor,  that  Meade  had  said,  that,  "If  Lee  could 
afford  to  wait  so  could  he  ;"  and  we  fancied  that  the  waiting  had 
begun,  when,  about  one  o'clock  on  Friday,  a  single  gun  en  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  valley  went  "bang,"  and  then  there  was  the  whirr  of 
a  shot.  Presently,  another  "bang,1*  and  then  "bang,  bang,  bang, 
bang,  bang,"  until  it  was  impossible  to  count  the  shots;  and  along 
with  these  reports  came  every  kind  of  hurtle,  whirr,  whistle  and  shriek, 
that  men  had  heard  or  can  imagine,  the  most  terrible  of  all  proceed- 
ing from  some  elongated  missile,  which  ceasing  to  revolve  around  its 
axis,  dashed  "promiscuously"  through  the  air,  becoming  visible  in 
such  event.  The  twelve  pound  shot  were  also  to  be  seen  as  they  came; 
and  the  worst  of  it  was,  that  every  shot  seemed  to  be  coming  straight 
to  hit  you  between  the  eyes.  Horses  were  the  greatest  sufferers  here; 
for  the  men  laid  down  and  escaped ;  but  the  poor  brutes  had  to  take 
it  standing.  General  Gibbon  had  sent  two  regiments  to  the  brick 
house  on  the  Emmettsburg  Road,  from  which  we  infer  that  he  expected 
an  attack  in  that  direction.  Although  Generals  don't  stop  to  tell  the 
soldiers  what  they  are  doing  this  or  that  for,  yet  now  and  then  one 
catches  a  word,  when  one  happens  to  be  near  by,  and  picks  up  a  hint, 
if  the  infernal  rampage  allows  time  for  thought.  So,  when  General 
Gibbon  was  heard  to  say  to  an  aide,  "Tell  General  Meade  that  the 
enemy  is  advancing  his  infantry  in  force  upon  my  front,"  and  the  aide 
was  seen  to  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  go  off  in  a  full  gallop,  we  began 
to  brace  up  for  what  was  coming.  By  this  time,  after  an  hour  and  a 
half  of  such  firing  as  I  have  described,  we  could  see,  from  where  we 
stood,  the  enemy  moving  up  in  three  linens  from  out  of  the  woods. 
They  would  come  out,  marching  by  a  flank,  till  they  reached  the 
desired  ground,  when  they  would  face  to  the  front.  Their  second  line 
was  about  a  hundred  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  first,  and  on  the  edge  of 
the  woods,  across  the  valley,  wTas  a  third  line.  It  was  a  splendid  sight 
to  see  them.  Ko  one  looked  at  their  uniforms  or  no  uniforms,  their 
hats  or  caps  or  bare  heads.  Everybody  looked  at  the  beautiful  way 
in  which  they  arrayed  themselves  in  order  of  attack,  regardless  of  the 
shot  and  shell  which  we  threw  into  their  ranks.  .  The  soldiers  on  our 
side  again  and  again  praised  it,  while  they  awaited  the  approach  of 
the  enemy.  !Nor  did  they  Avait  long.  When  they  approached  to 
within  ^bout  two  hundred  yards,  a  part  of  our  division,  I  think  it  was 
Hall's  Brigade  opened  fire,  and  we  could  see  men  fall,  and  others  go 
to  the  rear.  Still  on  they  came,  crowding  a  little  in  front,  but  as 
steady  as  rocks.  Just  then  an  officer  rode  by,  and  said  the  Vermont 
regiment  on  the  left  was  worrying  the  enemy.     But  they  did  not  mind 


8 

that  either;  on  they  came.  When  they  got  within  a  hundred  yards, 
more  of  our  regiments  opened  fire;  but  it  did  not  stop  them.  Some 
regiments  reserved  their  fire  until  they  got  within  fifty  yards,  and 
then  the  enemy  fell  fast;  but  still,  on  they  came,  and  we  could  see 
their  faces,  and  hear  their  officers.  It  was  almost  too  much  for  human 
nature  to  stand,  and  a  portion  of  the  second  brigade,  which  was  behind 
the  stone  fence,  you  will  recollect,  began  to  leave  cover — not  because 
the  enemy  was  upon  it,  but  because  it  seemed  impossible  to  stay. 
Not  a  man  ran,  or  seemed  to  feel  like  running,  but  they  fell  back 
slow])7,  loading  as  they  did  so,  and  firing,  while  the  flags  of  the  enemy 
— which  are  small  red  affairs  with  a  white  cross  diagonal  on  them — 
got  up  to  the  stone  wall,  and  some  crossed  the  line  of  rail  fence, 
perhaps  a  hundred  or  so,  led,  as  I  heard,  by  General  Armistead. 
They  were  able  to  do  this,  because,  as  I  have  told  you,  the  second 
brigade  did  not  stand  up  to  the  line  of  the  stone  wall  and  rail  fence, 
so  that  the  division  was  bent  backward  as  it  were,  in  the  centre,  the 
ends  on  the  right  and  left  standing  fast ;  at  least,  so  it  seemed,  for 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  smoke  and  a  terrific  noise  to  confuse  one's 
power  of  calm  observation. 

This  was  the  pinch,  and  the  officers  knew  it.  General  Gibbon  had 
just  been  hit,  some  one  said,  and  almost  at  the  same  time  General 
Hancock  was  badly  wounded,  and  b  ith  were  taken  oft*  the  field  to  the 
rear.  But  I  recollect  seeing  Gibbon's  aide  try  to  rally  the  men,  and 
do  it  manfully,  too.  He  did  a  man's  part  in  steadying  the  line.  So 
did  Webb,  who  was  on  foot  in  the  midst  of  the  men.  Entreaty, 
command,  expostulation,  encourgement,  were  employed.  Webb  was 
everywhere.  So  was  Colonel  Smith,  of  a  Pennsylvania  regiment.  At 
this  time  the  enemy  were  crowding  over  the  stone  fence  near  the 
clump  of  trees,  and  their  red  flags  were  waving,  as  it  seemed  to  me, 
in  triumph  already;  though  Hall  was  all  right  and  his  men  were 
steady  on  our  left  Presently,  some  one  near  me  said,  that  the  enemy 
were  massing  their  men  in  front  of  Webb,  opposite  the  clump  of  trees, 
and  we  began  to  Avish  for  Hall's  help.  By  this  time,  the  officers  bad 
stopped  the  falling  back  and  were  driving  stragglers  to  the  front, 
though  we  did  not  go  forward  to  the  stone  wall,  yet;  but  all  were 
facing  the  enemy  and  firing  heavily — not  in  ranks,  for  every  one 
seemed  going  it  pretty  much  on  his  own  hook — but  cheerfully,  which 
was  a  good  sign.  We  had  wished  for  Hall,  so  he  came  as  wished,  and 
his  right  marched  by  a  flank  to  our  left  and  got  mixed  with  our  men. 
As  the  third  brigade  (Hall's)  came  up  by  the  flank,  there  was  a 
disposition,  under  the  heavy  fire  to  which  it  was  exposed,  to  edge 
away  from  the  stone  wall;  but  the  officers  overcame  this,  and  soon  a 
compact  body  of  men  was  formed,  who  delivered  a  heavy  and  well 
directed  fire  upon  the  enemy  as  they  came  over  the  wall  and  rail 
fence  towards  us.  Just  then  an  officer,  Gibbon's  aide — I  think  it  was 
the  same  who  had  gone  for  Hall — came  over  with  some  regiments 
from  the  first  brigade  (Harrow's)  on  our  left,  and  from  him  it  was 
reported,  that  the  extreme  right  of  the  enemy,  opposite  to  our  left,  was 
breaking  badly,  and  that  men,  there,  were  running  to  the  rear.  This 
greatly  encouraged  us,  and  we  cheered  and  went  to  our  work  with  a 
will.     At  this  time,  we  were  behind  the  crest,  which  was  between  us 


9 

and  the  stone  wall,  which  was  a  little  way  down  the  hill  towards  the 
valley;  and  at  the  wall,  between  fifty  and  sixty  yards  from  us,  were 
the  enemy,  many  of  them  over  the  wall.  We  dow  advanced,  and 
Could  see,  as  we  did  80,  that  the  battle  was  raging  in  front  of  the  third 
division.  We  delivered  a  steady  fire  from  the  crest,  at  short  range, 
which  cleared  the  wall,  to  which  we  then,  rushed,  flags  waving  and 
men  shouting.  Webb,  Hall,  Devereux,  Mallon  and  Smith  were 
among  the  men.  Officers,  on  both  sides,  were  using  their  pistols. 
The  color  sergeant  of  the  72d  Pennsylvania  went  forward  with  his 
ctdors,  the  lance  of  which  had  been  shot  in  two.  The  soldiers  followed 
him  with  a  rush.  No  one  wanted  to  straggle  now.  Other  eolorswere 
borne  forward;  the  wall  was  gained,  and  crossed,  and  the  work  of 
taking  prisoners  commenced.  Hundreds,  who  threw  down  their  arms 
and  rushed  towards  us,  were  sent  to  the  rear.  Here  and  there,  there 
was  a  struggle  for  flags;  but  the  battle  Avas  ended  in  this  part  of  the 
field.  Lee's  great  assault  had  failed.  Going  back  with  some  prisoners 
across  the  wall  and  over  the  crest,  I  saw  General  Meade,  who  came 
on  the  ground  with  his  son,  who  was  his  aide.  He  stopped  to  speak 
to  General  Gibbon's  aide  (Hascall)  and  said,  in  his  sharp  way,  "How- 
is  it  going  here?"  or  something  that  sounded  like  it.  He  was  told 
that  the  attack  was  repulsed;  when  he  repeated,  "What,  is  the 
assault  entirely  repulsed?"  When  the  aide  again  told  him  he  thought 
it  was,  he  said,  "Thank  God."  and  made  a  motion  to  wave  his  hat, 
but  he  did  not,  but  waved  his  righthand  and  hurrahed,  while  his  son 
took  oft' his  hat  and  hurrahed  like  a  good  fellow.  We  men  stood  and 
stared,  and  then  passed  on,  as  the  General  gave  orders  in  a  quick, 
short  way,  which  seemed  to  be  about  the  placing  of  reinforcements. 
The  dead  men  and  horses  were  lying  thick  around;  there  was  still 
some  firing  going  on,  and  we  were  all — that  is,  all  of  us  that  were  left 
— begrimed  with  powder  and  dust,  and  many  were  bleeding;  but  it 
was  a  good  thing  to  see  our  General  so  cool,  so  much  at  his  ease,  and 
speakiug  in  such  a  soldierly  way;  and  when  he  said  "Thank  God," 
many  of  us  said  "Amen."  The  reinforcements  soon  came  up:  but 
we  had  done  without  them,  and  in  a  little  while  all  was  quiet  under 
the  clump  of  trees ;  and  the  stone  wall  and  the  rail  fence,  and  the 
heaps  of  dead,  were  once  more  at  rest — the  last,  for  ever. 

One  thing  struck  me  much.  It  was  the  intelligence  of  the  men. 
For  a  good  part  of  the  time,  and  in  the  heaviest  of  the  fight,  the  ranks 
were  lost,  and  there  was  no  organization.  The  officers  were  in  our 
midst,  everywhere  ;  but  still  we  kept  together,  and  seemed  to  under- 
stand, without  orders,  what  to  do,  and  to  feel  that  the  quicker  we 
fired  the  sooner  the  thing  would  be  over.  As  to  standing  in  line  and 
blazing  away  regularly,  wdiy  we  never  thought  of  it,  and  yet  our  fire 
was  fearful,  after  the  falling  back  from  the  wall  was  checked." 


10 


The  Point  of  Time  in  the  Battle  as  portrayed  in  the  Pieture,  is  thus 
mentioned  in  "BACHELDER'S  KEY  to  his  ISOMETRICAL  MAP 
of  the  BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG." 

"  THE  troops  on  Webb's  left  rapidly  changed  front  to  the  right,  and, 
<y  closing  en  masse,  rushed  upon  the  headstrong  foe.  Then  com- 
menced one  of  the  most  desperate  hand  to  hand  encounters  of  the 
battle.  The  bayonet  and  clubbed  musket  were  freely  used ;  colors 
were  entwined,  and  men  writhed  and  stroye  together  in  mortal 
combat.  Troops  were  hurried  to  their  support.  The  First  Corps 
closed  up;  the  Third  moved  to  the  right  and  closed  en  masse. 
General  Stannard,  whose  Brigade  was  at  the  front,  moved  it  by 
the  right  flank,  changed  front  forward  on  first  company,  and  with 
his  Green  Mountain  boys  ojjened  a  murderous  fire  upon  their 
exposed  flank.  The  effect  was  resistless.  The  ground  lay  thickly 
covered  with  killed  and  wounded;  hundreds,  thousands,  threw 
down  their  arms;  while  the  broken,  shattered  mass  sought  refuge 
behind  the  hills  from  which  they  had  emerged.  Turning  to  the  left, 
Willcox's  column,  seemingly  without  an  object,  came  winding  its  way 
down  the  opposite  field.  They  were  quickly  routed  by  McGilvery's 
Brigade  of  Reserve  Artillery,  and  large  numbers  were  swooped  up  by 
Stannard's  troops. 

Thus  terminated  one  of  the  most  determined  and  formidable  assaults 
of  modern  days ;  a  more  decided  repulse  or  inglorious  defeat  could 
not  have  befallen  their  arms;  and  with  it  virtually  ended  the  battle, 
though  the  affair  of  Kilpatrick,  before  mentioned,  closed  at  a  later 
hour.  The  enemy's  loss  in  numbers  was  very  severe,  while  the  casual- 
ties among  officers  of  both  armies  was  unprecedented.  On  the  Union 
side,  General  Hancock,  Gibbon,  Webb  and  Stannard  were  wounded ; 
on  our  enemy's,  Generals  Kemper,  Pettigrew,  Trimble,  and  Colonel 
Frye,  commanding  Archer's  Brigade,  were  wounded,  all  within  fifteen 
minutes'  time,  and  within  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  a  common 
centre. 

Skirmishing  continued  during  the  next  day,  though  the  beaten  foe 
at  once  commenced  his  retreat,  moving  on  the  Fairfield  and  Cham- 
bersburg;  Roads. " 


PROGRAMME 


OF    THE 


t  1  T  J    1      1      lit      Jt  t 

p  ft  pi  pp  ^  If  I  p  p 

ATI  i:. Mia  ST  UPON  THE  UNVEUUNQ  OF 

ROTHERMEL'S  GREAT  PICTURE 


OF    THE 


IpATTLE  OF  {GETTYSBURG, 


AT    THE 


ACADEMY  OF  MUSIC,  FHllLAB'A, 

(vib  Q/tMaau  (gvenma*,    (zyeccniwe-h  StfM,   of  <^  o-  cw-c4>. 

Under  the  auspioes  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts. 

IJusic  h)  jnasstafs  mraiut  H[ititarg  fjawt  and  ijnim  foip. 

OVERTURE— AMERICAN    QUADRILLE JULLIEN 

IJ  NVEILIJS'Q   OP  THE    pICTUF(E. 

MARCHE   AUX   FLAMBEAUX MEYERBEER. 

POLONAISE, KUHNER. 

BATTLE  OVERTURE LIN  DPAI  NTN  ER. 

READING  OF  JANVIER'S  POEM  OF  "THE  BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG." 

RUSSIAN   HYMN, SWOFF. 

Visitors  are  recommended  to  bring  OPERA  GLASSES  fur  tlie  better  crimination  of  the  Picture. 


11 

On  .Tr.lv  1,  General  Reynold's  First  Corps,  until  ho  received  his  mortal  wound, 
and,  after  him,  General  Howard's  Eleventh  Corps,  Btubbornly  opposed  a  greatly 
superior  Confe  Lerate  force,  Borne  two  miles  north  of  the  Town  of  <  lettysburg,  bnl 
were  driven  back  with  loss,  through  the  town,  upon  Cemetery  Mill,  Where 
Stein wehr*s  Brigade  had  been  posted,  as  a  point  to  tall  back  upon  in  case  of 
disaster.  Later  in  the  day,  General  Hancock  (sent  in  advance  of  hia  corps  to 
take  the  command]  organized  a  line  of  defence  out  of  the  shattered  remains  of 
the  First  and  Eleventh  Corps. 


The  following  Description  is  by  COLONEL  C.  H.  BANES,  Adjutant- 
General  Webb's  Brigade,  an  Eye  Witness  on  the  Field  of  the 
last  great  efforts  of  the  Confederates.  Pickett's  Charge  the  Subject 
of  this  Picture. 

"The  spectator  is  supposed  to  be  standing  on  the  line  of  battle,  and  looking 
toward  the  left  of  the  Union  forces.  This  position  was  occupied  by  our  troops 
on  the  night  of  the  1st  July,  and  also  on  the  2d. 

"On  the  extreme  Left,  in  the  distance,  are  seen  the  elevations  known  as  the 
Round  Tops,  where  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves  did  such  memorable  fighting. 
In  front  of  a  line  to  our  right  of  Round  Top,  nearer  the  Emmettsburg  Road, 
is  the  ground  fought  over  on  July  2,  by  General  Sickle's  Third  Corps,  and 
General  Longstreet,  of  the  Confederates.  Connecting  with  the  line  of  the  Third 
Corps,  and  extending  to  the  foreground  of  the  picture,  is  the  Second  Corps,  under 
Hancock.  With  the  exception  of  a  brief  and  not  very  spirited  attack,  imme- 
diately after  the  affair  of  the  afternoon  of  July  2,  this  Corps  had  no  severe  work, 
excepting  an  occasional  shelling  and  sharpehooting  fire,  until  noon  of  July  :>d. 
Just  prior  to  that  hour  a  temporary  lull  seemed  to  betoken  a  movement  of  some 
unusual  character.  While  the  officers,  with  their  field-glasses,  were  trying  to 
descry  the  next  movement  in  the  great,  battle,  a  single  Whitworth  gun  was  fired 
from  the  extreme  Rebel  left,  and  just  reached  the  clump  of  trees  in  the  fore- 
ground. Then  a  shell  from  the  Rebel  centre,  then  a  shot  from  the  left,  and 
immediately,  from  right  to  centre,  and  centre  to  left,  burst  forth  one  of  the  most 
terrible  cannonadings  of  the  war.  The  fire  of  over  a  hundred  guns  was 
ebneentered  on  the  same  portion  of  Meade's  line.  Round  shot  and  shell, 
Whitworth  bolts  and  spherical  case,  were  all  in  the  air  at  the  same  time.  The 
Union  batteries  as  quickly  responded,  and  the  ground  seemed  to  tremble  with 
the  thunder  of  war.  The  infantry  of  both  armies  were  silent  before  the  work  of 
death,  watching  the  destructive  effects  of  the  canonading.  The  ghastly  wounding 
of  men  and  horse-,  the  dismounting  of  batteries,  and  the  flying  missiles  from  the 
explosion  of  limbers  and  caissons  made  a  scene  of  horror  never  to  be 
forgotten. 

''Amidst  all  this  the  Union  men,  grasping  their  rifles  and  lying  on  the 
ground  in  silence,  anxiously  but  firmly  awaited  the  inevitable  result  of  this 
bombardment, — an  infantry  attack.  At  three  o'clock  the  fire  ceased  as  suddenly 
as  it  had  commenced,  and  from  the  line  of  woods  beyond  the  Emmettsburg  Road  the 
enemy  were  Been  advancing  in  force.  The  Union  batteries  increased  their  fire 
if  possible,  using  case  shot  instead  of  shell,  making  rude  gaps  in  the  ranks  of  the 
advancing  columns,  which  were  dosed  as  quickly  as  they  were  made.  On  they 
come,  looking  in  the  distance    like  a  living    thunder-cloud.     As  new  batteries 


12 

arc  placed  in  position,  the  five  is  increased,  with  no  apparent  effect,  except  to 
mark  the  track  with  dead  and  wounded  over  which  the  force  is  moving.  <  >n 
they  come  !  Nothing  more  gallant  could  be  expected  of  desperate  men  in  a 
desperate  cause.  Gallantly  the  Union  forces  closed  up  their  ranks,  and  awaited 
the  attack,  like  two  giants  about  to  grapple  in  a  death  struggle,  each  striving  for 
the  impetus  to  overcome  the  other.  The  little  stonewall  in  front  of  the  69th 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers  is  reached,  and  'Pickett's  men'  of  Longstreet's  Corps, 
who  up  to  this  time  supposed  they  were  attacking  the  untried  militia,  cried  out, 
'The  Army  of  the  Potomac!'  General  Armistead,  of  Virginia,  in  the  advance, 
with  hat  on  his  sword,  was  the  first  over  the  wall,  exclaiming,  'Give  them  the 
cold  steel ! ' 

"  Here  came  the  grip  of  the  fight.  Gallant  Hancock  is  down  ;  Gibbon,  severely 
wounded,  is  lead  to  the  rear ;  Generals  Kemper  and  Armistead,  of  the  Rebel  force, 
as  quickly  fall  ;  and  officers  and  men  on  both  sides  are  as  rapidly  stricken.  For 
a  k-\v  moments  the  antagonists,  survey  each  other,  Armistead,  the  Rebel  leader, 
but  a  few  paces  from  General  Webb,  of  the  Philadelphia  Brigade,  were  literally 
looking  each  other  in  the  eyes.  Then  the  final  struggle.  Rifles  and  pistols, 
swords  and  bayonets,  and  butts  of  muskets — all  are  freely  used.  "Without 
formation  of  ranks,  Rebels  and  Union  men  in  their  front  and  rear,  and  Union 
men  in  some  places  surrounded  by  the  enemy.  This  lasted  for  a  few  moments, 
when  the  Southern  men  could  stand  no  more,  and  those  who  vere  no*.  3urrounded. 
or  unwilling  to  risk  an  attempt  to  retreat  over  their  path  of  desth  threw  dowx 
their  arms  and  surrendered.  The  fight  was  over,  the  last  a**ack  of  Lee  at 
Gettysburg  was  repulsed,  and  the  highest  wave  of  the  Rebellior  reached  its  limit- 
ever  after  to  recede." 


COl'IED  FROM  THE  "PBESS,"  DECEMBER  Silt,  1870. 

GETTYSBURG. 

Rothermel's  Picture  of  the  Battle.— The  Great  Painting  is  Unveiled.— 
History  of  the  Struggle  it  Portrays. — The  Addresses. — Description 
of  the  Work. 

'  T  N  the  Academy  of  Music  last  evening,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Pennsylvania 
5  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  Rothermel's  Great  Picture  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg 
was  unveiled.  A  master  work  of  art,  the  large  canvas  was  stretched  behind  the 
curtain  ota  the  stage,  brilliantly  lighted  up  by  multitudes  of  gas  jets  in  the  flies 
and  wings,  stretched  in  such  a  way  and  position  as  to  be  distinctly  seen  from 
every  portion  of  the  house.  When  the  curtain  rolled  up,  displaying  the  Painting, 
the  applause  was  unbounded,  wild  for  a  minute,  and  then  the  thronged  audience 
subsided  into  a  death-like  stillness,  every  eye  devouring  the  Picture  in  its  entirety 
and  in  its  details. 

As  has  been  mentioned,  the  audience  was  a  thronged  one,  the  house  being 
crowded  in  parquet,  balcony  and  circle. 

Ilassler's  Military  Band  was  present,  and  interspersed  throughout  the  exer- 
cises a  number  of  marches  and  national  and  military  airs. 

After  the  performance  of  the  first  piece  of  music  came  the 

UNVEILING  OF  THE  PICTURE. 

"When  the  curtain  rose  there  was  revealed  to  view  the  great  Painting  in  all 
its  magnificence  and  terrible  truthfulness.  In  size  it  is  sixteen  by  thirty-two  feet, 
one  of  the  largest  pictures  ever  painted  anywhere.  It  was  brilliantly  lighted  by 
rows  of  gas  jets  above  and  below,  and  every  feature  was  distinctly  visible  in  all 
parts  of  the  house.  Every  one  who  ever  participated  in  or  ever  witnessed  a  battle, 
knows  the  impossibility  of  transferring  to  canvas  an  adequate  idea  of  such  a 
gigantic  conflict  in  its  entirety,  including  considerable  lapse  of  time,  generally 
-real  space,  and  a  thousand  sickening  incidents.  The  most  the  artist  can  do  is 
to  seize  upon  some  one  pregnant  moment  of  the  struggle,  and  one  portion  of  the 
tield  lor  his  pictorial  description.  What  he  tints  photographs,  as  it  were,  may  be 
regarded  as  one  of  numerous  shifting  scenes  of  a  momentous  tragedy. 

Mr.  FvOthermel  has  evinced  his  unerring  judgment  and  artistic  genius,  as 
much  in  the  selection  of  this  moment  or  phrase  of  the  grand  battle,  as  in  its  treat- 
ment. The  scene  he  has  chosen  was  the  great  climax  ot  the  tragedy,  one 
which  not  only  gives  the  most  faithful  idea  possible,  of  the  main  portion  of  the 
field  and  of  the  fight,  but  lias  enabled  him  to  represent  in  a  wonderful  degree,  the 
action  and  intense  energy  so  characteristic  of  a  conflict  of  arms,  and  which  makes 
the  Picture  such  a  marvel  of  force  and  fidelity.  The  scene  portrayed  occurred 
on  the  third  day  of  the  conflict,  which  had  been  engaging  about  two  hundred 
thousand  men  over  an  area  of  twenty  square  miles,  and  with  varving  fortunes. 
Pickett's  rebel  division  had  made  a  desperate  charge  on  that  portion  of  the  Union 
line  held  by  Hancock's  corps.  A  stone  wall  was  between  the  two  armies.  The 
rebels  had  driven  back  our  men,  and  had  themselves  advanced  beyond  the  wall. 


16 

A  rally  was  made,  the  rebels  retired  behind  the  wall,  and  for  a  few  seconds  thefg 
was  here  a  hand  to  hand  bayonet  fight.  Its  duration  was  brief,  the  rebels  soon 
breaking  and  fleeing  in  confusion.  This  terrible  bayonet  struggle  over  the" 
meandering  stone  fence  forms  the  central  feature  of  the  Picture.  To  say  that  it 
has  been  realized  with  ghastly  accuracy  and  power,  is  but  faint  praise  compared 
to  that  which  it  deserves.  On  either  side  are  the  masses  of  the  contending  armies, 
officers  and  men  intermingled  with  the  confusion  inseparable  from  such  a  final 
tug  of  war.  General  Meade  has  just  arrived  upon  the  scene,  and  together  with 
his  son,  Colonel  George  Meade,  and  Colonel  Haskell,  all  mounted,  is  shown  ;  at 
the  left,  dead,  wounded  and  dying  bestrew  the  ground  in  front.  Away  to  the 
rear  stretch  the  lines  of  the  two  armies,  marked  in  the  distance  only  by  dense 
clouds  of  smoke.  Bursting  shells  in  the  air  and  under  the  feet  of  horses  and  men 
lend  an  added  horror  to  the  scene. 

The  perfection  of  the  Picture  rests  chiefly  in  the  accuracy  with  which  the 
locality,  the  conspicuous  features  of  the  two  armies,  and  the  particular  struggle, 
as  well  as  many  faces  of  officers  and  soldiers  engaged,  are  drawn,  together  with 
its  remarkable  breadth.  One  does  not  look  for  beauty  in  a  battle  scene,  but  Mr. 
Rothermel  has  produced  a  sky  and  clouds  in  this  Picture  so  poetic  and  so  full  of 
nature's  attractiveness,  that  they  go  far  toward  compensating  for  the  horrors 
depicted  below.  The  work,  as  a  whole,  is  a  most  grand  and  impressive  one,  and 
should  confer  enduring  fame  upon  its  author. 

Following  the  unveiling  of  the  Picture  came  the  following 

ADDRESS  BY  JOSEPH  HARRISON,  JR. 

War,  with  all  its  horrors,  with  all  its  glories— if  glory  can  be  educed  from 
such  dreadful  elements — has  been  the  favorite  theme  of  the  Historian  and  the 
Poet,  the  Painter  and  the  Sculptor,  the  Architect  and  the  Founder,  in  all  the 
past,  as  it  is  now.  Holy  "Writ  is  full  of  the  records  of  War.  The  sculptured  slabs 
of  Nineveh,— the  mystic  cuttings  in  granite,  and  the  colors  still  extant  amidst  the 
ruins  of  Egypt,  are,  in  a  great  degree,  the  story  of  war.  Greece  and  Rome,  in 
later  days,  reared  the  column  the  triumphal  arch  and  the  temple,  in  honor  of  war. 
Nearer  to  our  time,  the  pastoral  Swiss  delight  to  show  m  rude  colors  and  in  ruder 
lines,  their  war-like  efforts  in  struggling  for  liberty  on  the  fields  of  Sempach, 
Morgarten  and  Morat;  of  Tell,  and  of  their  greater  hero,  Winkleried,  who,  in 
breaking  the  enemy's  line,  died  with  a  sheaf  of  spears  centering  their  points  in 
his  single  breast.  The  Red  Indian  paints  on  his  Buffalo  robe  in  uncouth  fashion, 
the  storjr  of  his  war  path ;  and  through  all  time,  the  most  refined,  as  well  as  the 
rudest  nations,  have  made  and  perpetuated  the  records  and  memorials  of  war. 

Nearer  and  still  nearer  to  our  own  time,  war  and  its  heroes  have  been  por- 
trayed on  glowing  canvas,  in  marble  and  in  bronze.  It  is  curious,  too,  to  con- 
template how  sacredly  and  how  carefully  the  story  and  the  memorials  of  war 
have  been  preserved  to  us.  The  Iconoclast,  in  thoughtless  rage,  broke  up  the 
images  and  destroyed  the  church  relics;  but  who  has  ever  heard  of  the  wilful 
destruction  of  a  record  or  a  memon'al  of  war?  There  is  something  strange  in 
this. — The  invading  Prussian,  crowds  to-dav  the  galleries  of  Versailles,  that 
marvelous  collection,  dedicated  to  "all  the  glories  of  France."  Here  is  shown 
the  humiliation  01  Prussia  on  a  hundred  fields,  but  we  have  yet  to  learn  that  a 
single  canvas  has  been  injured  or  a  single  memorial  mutdated. 


17 

Blucher,  brooding  over  his  country's  wrongs,  mighl  well  nave  been  pardoned 
when  he  insisted  apon  blowing  ap  the  Bridge  of  Jena,  on  entering  Paris  after 
Waterloo;  but  the  better  taste  and  judgment  of  Wellington  stayed  the  old  Ten« 
ton's  hand,  and  the  bridge  was  saved.  It  was  left  for  the  French  people  of  this 
day,  t"  discuss  the  propriety  of  tearing  nil' the  bronze  that  encircles  the  column  oi 
the  Place  Vendome.  But  Austria,  whose  cannon — lost  at  Austerlitz — furnished 
the  material,  and  whose  defeats  furnish  the  story  of  the  Bcroll,  made  no  such  sug- 
gestion iu  L815.  A  curious  instance  of  this  sacredness  may  be  here  related.  In 
the  tov  n  of  t  oblenta,  on  the  Rhine,  ( now  Prussian  territory,  i  near  which  a  portion 
of  the  Grand  Army  that  afterwards  invaded  Russia  was  gathered  together,  there 
was  erected,  in  1812,  an  obelisk  in  the  <  rreat  Square,  with  a  fulsome  dedication  to 
the  Grand  Army.  Following  Napoleon's  defeat,  in  due  time  a  Russian  garrison 
occupied  Coblentz.  The  military  governor  placed  there  by  the  Emperor  Alex- 
ander, instead  of  destroying  the  memorial  of  Russia's  proposed  degradation,  in 
bitter  irony,  caused  to  be  inscribed  underneath  the  dedication,  the  words,  "Seen 
and  Approved,"  with  day  and  date,  and  signing  his  name  at  the  bottom  as  Rus- 
sian Military  Commandant  of  Coblentz.  The  added  words  stand  there  to  this 
day. 

The  greatest  men  in  art  have  portrayed  the  story  of  war  in  every  shape. 
Raphael  designed,  though  he  did  not  painty  the  Battle  of  the  Ponte  Mola,  mar 
Koine,  where  (  onstantine  hurled  Maxentius  and  his  legions  into  the  yellow  waves  of 
the  Tiber,  under  the  rays  of  what  he  supposed  to  be  a  supernatural  cross  shining  in 
the  heavens.  Leonardo  Da  Vinci  painted  the  "Battle  of  the  Standard."  Michael 
Angelo  sketched,  but  did  not  live  to  paint,  the  "Bathers  at  Pisa,"  that  wondrous 
scene,  where  an  army,  surprised  when  bathing,  rush  in  hot  haste  naked  from  the 
stream,  to  don  quickly  their  armor  and  to  fight.  Some  of  the  best  works  of  mod- 
ern painters  of  all  nations  depict  the  rage  of  battle,  and  appeal  from  glowing  can- 
vas to  the  patriotism  of  their  countrymen. 

Our  country  is  not  prolific  in  war  art,  and  it  is  well  that  it  is  so,  as  it  proves 
us  to  be  a  peaceful  nation.  Trumbull  has  painted  well  the  story  of  some  of  the 
conflicts  of  the  Revolution  ;  but,  until  the  time  of  our  civil  strife,  our  war  history 
has  had  but  few  heroic  themes.  It  is  not  well  to  foster,  or  to  keep  alive  too 
strongly,  even  in  art,  the  bitterness  engendered  in  the  first  years  of  the  last  de- 
cade. But  if  any  theme  in  this  eventful  history,  appeals  to  us  more  strongly  for 
remembrance  than  any  other,  it  is  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg. 

Turn  we  now  to  the  scene  before  us.  "When  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  a  true  spirit  of  patriotism,  determined  to  order  a  picture  of  this 
great,  this  decisive  battle,  a  lew  friends  of  Mr.  Kothermel,  who  knew  his  power 
in  other  branches  of  art,  believed  that  he,  a  native  of  our  State,  could  paint  this 
picture  well.  They  rejoiced  when  the  order  was  given  to  him.  How  well  he  has 
done  his  work,  this  audience  and  posterity  must  decide.  The  friends,  who  have 
watched  the  picture  from  its  inception  to  the  present  moment,  can  only  say,  and 
this  not  in  pre-judgment,  that  they  have  not  been  disappointed.  It  is  no  partial 
picture.  Union  and  Confederate  soldier  alike,  have  had  full  justice  done  them. 
Like  two  sturdy  athletes,  well-matched,  the  contending  hosts  met,  and  the  best 
man  won. 

I  will  prophecy  that,  so  long  as  this  canvas  holds  together,  and  these  colors 
remain  unladed,  our  countrymen,  North  and  South,  Last  and  West,  will  have  a 
just  pride  in  this  picture.    They  will  be  glad   that  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  was 


18 

fought,  and  they  will  rejoice  that  the  "Pinch  of  the  Fight"  ended  as  it  did.  For 
here  our  Union  was  saved,  and  here  we  were  preserved  a  nation.     Esto  perpetual 

You  call  for  the  artist,  for  the  man  whose  brain  conceived,  and  whose  hand 
executed  this  work,  and  it  becomes  my  pleasing  duty,  in  taking  this  modest,  this 
quiet-looking  gentleman  by  the  hand,  to  introduce  Mr.  Rothermel. 

With  these  concluding  words,  Mr.  Harrison  extended  his  hand  to  the  private 
box,  near  which  he  stood,  and  the  artist, 

MR.  ROTHERMEL, 

arose  in  full  view  of  all  the  house.     He  was  time  and  again  cheered. 
Then  came  the  following 

ADDRESS  BY  COLONEL  WILLIAM  M'MICHAEL. 

Art,  to-night,  pays  tribute  to  arms;  the  genius  of  the  pencil  illustrates  the 
genius  of  the  sword;  the  highest  skill  of  painting  depicts  the  sublimest  struggle 
of  patriotism.  For  in  this  Picture,  fitly  unveiled  in  your  presence,  where  beauty 
may  welcome  it  with  smiles,  and  valor  and  judgment  endorse  it  with  approval, 
we  behold  a  work  alike  noble  in  the  action  which  it  represents  and  in  the  power 
with  which  that  action  is  delineated.  Nor  should  we  fail  on  this  occasion  to 
express  our  satisfaction  that  the  State  has  shown  appreciation  of  the  Battle  of 
Gettysburg  by  recording  its  story  in  this  best  of  all  histories,  read  in  a  moment 
but  remembered  for  a  lifetime;  and,  seeing  how  admirably  it  is  executed, 
how  true  it  is,  how  vivid,  how  lifelike,  showing  not  the  smooth  display  of  a 
holiday  pageant,  but  the  rough  encounter  of  actual  fight,  the  glorious  but  terrible 
reality  of  war,  we  may  well  exchange  congratulations  that  to  so  gifted  a  Pennsyl- 
vanian  as  Mr.  Rothermel,  was  assigned  the  important  service  of  portraying  this 
suprfeme  conflict,  fought  upon  Pennsylvania  soil,  largely  maintained  by  Penn- 
sylvania soldiers,  and  planned,  directed,  and  victoriously  consummated  by  the 
most  distinguished  of  Pennsylvania  generals. 

But  not  to  us  alone,  nor  to  our  State,  belong  the  fame  and  the  consequence  of 
this  great  battle.  Its  result  shaped  the  nation's  life,  its  glory  is  the  nation's 
property.  For,  about  those  once  peaceful  hills,  now  historic  from  bloodshed, 
hostile  armies  determined  the  final  issue  of  the  antagonistic  ideas  which  were  the 
occasion  and  the  support  of  the  'war;  there  rebellion  made  its  strongest  assault 
upon  government;  there  caste  had  its  most  critical  encounter  with  freedom,  and 
the  disintegrating  spirit  of  secession  with  that  of  national  integrity  and  Union. 
The  great  wave  of  Southern  invasion  spending  there  its  power,  ebbed  back  never 
to  return,  and  when  Lee  and  his  followers,  after  such  gallant  and  persistent 
endeavors  as  make  us  admire  their  courage,  even  while  we  condemn  their  purpose, 
turned  again,  baffled  and  defeated,  to  retrace  their  steps  across  the  Potomac,  they 
started  on  that  portentous  march  which  was  to  end  only  by  the  capitulation  at 
the  Appomotax.  This  is  not  a  mere  battle  then — it  is  an  epoch.  This  is  not  a 
Picture  only — it  is  an  epic — a  national  struggle,  a  national  record.  And  so,  con- 
scious alike  of  the  magnitude  of  the  work  and  of  the  event  which  it  celebrates, 
let  us  have  this  canvas  hung  where  the  whole  nation  may  see  it.  Let  it  rest  in 
the  shadow  of  old  Independence  Hall,  so  that  the  traveler  from  every  State  and 
from  every  clime,  pausing  to  look  upon  the  sacred  precincts  where  our  liberties 


19 

were  proclaimed,  may  learn  also  of  the  bloody  ordeal  by  which  those  liberties 
were  preserved  and  perpetuated. 

We  assemble  to-night  in  a  season  of  profound  public  quiet  Across  the 
ocean  rival  nation-  arc  contending,  r.s  Gaul  ami  Saxon  renew  their  ancient 
Rtruggle  for  mastery,  but  do  echo  of  the  strife  is  heard  within  our  own  borders. 
The  -word  is  in  truth  turned  into  a  plowshare,  and  the  desolating  march  oi 
armies  exchanged  for  the  peaceful  tread  of  the  husbandman  No  martial  pro- 
clamations now,  no  roll  of  drums  in  the  street,  no  glowing  appeal-  from  the  ros- 
trum.    It  i-  our  taxes  we  growl  about,  not  our  tactics,  trade  that  we  want,  not 

troops;  and   we  are   interested   ill   the  list  of  customers   ami   clients,   not   in  the 

muster  roll  of  recruits.  These  are  the  piping  times  of  peace;  no  great  perils;  no 
gnat  emotions.  The  barracks  are  gone;  the  hospital  hroken  up;  the  tents  aban- 
doned. 1  >nt  as  1  see  once  again,  in  the  Bcene  before  us,  the  blue  coat,  the 
Cartridge  box,  the  musket,  the  wounded  hero,  the  dying  patriot,  they  recall  a  host 
of  memories  that  thrill  me  like  a  trumpet. 

The  years  retire.  Time  rolls  backward  in  its  flight.  It  is  April  16,  ISfll, 
and  I  stand  again  in  yonder  armory,  with   a  crowd  of  young  comrades  clamoring 

about  me  as  we  rally  with  vowb  and  acclamations  around  the  uplifted  stars  and 

stripes.  No  idea  then  of  gain,  or  lucre,  or  personal  advantage;  but  books  drop- 
ped, COUnting-rooms  deserted,  workshop-;  closed — a  single  thought,  a  common 
aspiration — the  country  assailed,  the  Union  to  be  saved.  For  even  while  we 
gather  the  South  foments  with  angry  treason,  States  break  their  allegiance,  officers 
their  oaths,  rebellion  Haunts  it  ensigns,  our  Hag  is  tired  on,  Sunipter  is  over- 
whelmed. Every  where  citizens  hurry  to  their  councils,  troops  to  their  standards, 
the  air  is  full  of  the  auguries  of  war,  banners  fly  upon  the  breeze,  hand  grasps 
hand,  political  differences  are  forgotten,  as  all  rise  with  majestic  resolution  in 
answer  tothecall  to  arms  of  their  faithful  President.  Ah,  friends,  when  we  sicken 
at  tin-  corruption  that  rots  about  us,  let  us  not  forget  the  clear  virtue  of  that  trying 
time,  when  we  dread  the  product  of  the  future,  let  us  be  cheered  by  that  noble 
impulse  of  the  past;  when  we  weary  of  the  burden  of  debt  that  is  upon  us,  let  us 
remember  why  it  was  assumed,  and  that  if  of  his  own  countrymen  Walpole's  bitter 
expression  be  true,  that  "Every  man  has  his  price,"  when  our  honor  and  our 
dignity  as  a  nation  were  in  question,  billions  were  not  enough  to  purchase  the 
American  people. 

Then  came  the  thick  of  the  war,  with  our  varying  reverses  and  successes,  the 
nation  growing  calmer,  hut  not  less  resolute,  and  through  it  all  our  loyal  women 
sustaining  the  cause  with  unwavering  fidelity.  It  "is  a  fitting  part  of  these  ceremo- 
nies that  they  should  be  present,  and  with  them  one  who  was  conspicuous  among 
these  gentler  allies  by  her  untiring  ministrations,  the  story  of  whose  good  deed- 
has  been  told  among  the  angels  by  many  a  soldier  whose  dying  anguish  she  has 
assuaged,  whose  orphan  children  she  has  BO  tenderly  protected.  So  the  war  went 
on  until  the  early  summer  of  1863,  which  found  Bosecrans  pushing  forward 
his  columns  toward-  <  Georgia,  and  l'emberton's  army  closed  as  in  a  vice  at  Vicks- 
burg  by  the  tenacious  and  indomitable  Grant.  But  while  in  the  "West  there  was 
promise  of  triumphs,  in  the  East  the  aspect  was  more  dubious;  for  Lee,  with  a 
thoroughly  disciplined  and  highly  elated  army,  had  left  Virginia,  crossed  through 
Maryland,  and  in  the  last  days  of  June  was  actually  threatening  the  capital  ol 
Pennsylvania.  The  situation  was  extremely  critical,  and  it  was  nio-t 
fortunate  for  the  country  that  it  Could  confront  the  hold  legions  of  the  invadi  rs 


20 

with  the  war  tried  veterans  of  the  noble  Army  of  the  Potomac.  If  they  had 
Pickett  and  Johnston,  Stuart,  Hill,  Hood,  and  Longstreet,  we  gladly  challenged 
them  with  Birney  and  Reynolds,  Geary  and  Buford,  Hancock,  and  glorious 
old  Sedgwick,  and  to  the  sagacious  direction  of  the  rebel  leader,  could  oppose 
the  cool  head  and  stout  heart  of  the  intrepid  Meade.  Under  his  orders  our 
army  was  pushed  rapidly  forward  to  check  the  advancing  march  of  the  enemy, 
and  on  the  first  of  July  the  heads  of  the  opposing  columns  met  near  the  town  of 
Gettysburg,  when  a  sharp  engagement  took  place,  in  which  the  chivalric  Reynolds 
was  slain,  but  not  till  his  quick  military  vision  had  detected  the  vantage  ground, 
and  his  movements  enabled  our  forces  to  occupy  it.  Our  troops  were  placed  from 
the  hill  which  you  see  in  the  background,  -which  is  Round  Top,  along  to  an 
eminence  to  the  right,  the  enemy  taking  position  against  our  front.  Next  day, 
July  the  2d,  saw  desperate  fighting,  with  such  fierce  assaults  as  tried  our  fellows* 
to  their  marrow,  and  the  night  fell  upon  a  field  covered  with  dead,  and  hospitals 
crowded  with  wounded.  But  no  talk  of  leaving,  for  here  we  win  the  field  or  here 
we  perish  on  it.  The  second  day's  fighting  has  compressed  our  left,  but  not 
weakened  it,  for  the  line  if  shorter  is  more  compact;  but  the  enemy  has  gained 
some  advantage  on  the  right,  and  effected  a  lodgment,  which  threatens  that  flank. 
The  night  of  the  second  is  still  prolonged  in  the  sombre  darkness  of  the  early 
hours  of  the  morrow,  as  batteries  take  position  and  troops  are  disposed  to  regain 
the  ground,  and  at  daybreak  the  cannons  pour  forth  their  fierce  summons  of 
removal ;  then,  the  infantry  moving  forward  to  the  encounter,  there  follow  four 
hours  of  almost  uninterrupted  musketry,  till  the  persistent  valor  of  our  men  retake 
the  hills,  and  the  integrity  of.  the  line  is  recovered. 

It  is  12  o'clock,  July  3d,  and  to-morrow  will  be  the  anniversary  of  our  indepen- 
dence. What  tidings  of  joy  or  of  sorrow  shall  its  bells  proclaim  to  the  people. 
Gird  your  loins,  ye  yeomen  of  our  legions,  for  it  is  honor  and  liberty,  and_a  nation 
for  which  you  are  contending  I  Twelve  o'clock,  and  the  heart  of  nature  seems 
almost  to  cease  its  beating  in  the  intensity  of  dread  expectation,  while  the  efful- 
gent sun,  looking  down  at  high  meridian,  seems  as  of  old  to  stand  still  in  its 
course,  as  though  shrinking  appalled  from  the  fearful  slaughter  it  shall  witness. 
The  pause  of  carnage,  the  brink  of  fate,  for  as  the  great  orb  bends  slowly  toward 
the  western  horizon  and  marks  the  single  hour  upon  the  dial,  a  signal  gun 
breaks  the  solemn  stillness. 

And  then  from  the  line  of  the  enemy,  all  along  those  hills,  where 
his  masses  lie  waiting,  there  bursts  forth  a  tempest  of  flame  and  smoke  and 
terrific  cannonading,  such  as  this  continent  never  before  witnessed  ;  nor  seems  to 
slacken  its  thundering  death  hail,  until,  from  the  sulphurous  canopy,  a  part  of  the 
rebel  front  is  seen  advancing.  Now  for  the  tug  of  war!  Now  for  the  death-grip 
of  the  battle!  For  yonder  come  Pickett's  men,  who  swear  by  the  Lone  Star  they 
never  have  been  beaten,  and  never  will  be,  and  on  their  either  flank  warriors  of 
a  score  of  fights. 

Eighteen  thousand  tested  veterans,  wrought  into  a  Titanic  war  bolt — shaft  of 
adamant,  edges  of  steel — hurled  forth  to  crush  our  centre,  with  ponderous  onslaught. 
As  they  start,  down  rides  Hancock  along  our  line,  superb  that  day  in  the  beauty 
of  his  valor.  "Here  they  come!"  he  cries  out  cheerily.  "Here  they  come,  in 
three  lines  of  battle !  Steady,  men,  steady !"  "All  right,  General !  we  are  ready ! 
We  hold  this  line,  or  die  on  it !"  But  now,  as  they  develop  in  the  fields  and 
move  forward,  our  artillery  rains  destruction.     It  rakes  them  with  shot,  it  rends 


21 

them  with  shell,  until  on  right  ami  left  they  falter  and  Btagger.  Their  Banks  arc 
crumbling,  but  their  centre  keeps  firm.    <>li!  stay  them,  Pickett     Your  men  of 

iron,  they  Beem  too  brave  to  kill  I     But  mi  they  c e,  and  mi,  and  on,  till  we 

th.ii-  faces  ami  hear  their  yells.  These  are  not  men;  they  are  furies,  maddened 
with  treason,  frenzied  with  hate«  >.<>«•.  firel  comrades,  Hit!  Up  and  at  them  ' 
Fight,  men,  fight  for  your  wives  and  your  children,  and  rour  homes.  They  sweep 
(in  ua  like  demons — are  at  tin-  guns,  are  on  the  wall !  and  to  hand,  Bteel  to  Bteel, 
knife  to  knife — valor  of  patriots,  rage  of  devils.  Now,  Cushing,  give  them  your 
canister  I  Now,  Woodruffi  tear  them  with  yourgrapel  Hall  to  the  re-rue!  7*_M 
down  on  them  like  tigersl  Flank  them,  Stannardl  Crush  them,  Gibbon  I  Mash 
them,  Webbl  They  reel,  tiny  waver,  their  colors  are  going  !  They  break,  they 
break  I  They  retreat,  they  retreat)  The  charge  is  repulsed,  the  battle  is  won. 
All  honor  to  our  heroes  who  survive;  all  reverence  for  those  who  have  fallen; 

all  praise  to  their  gallant  leader,  and  all  thanks  unto  (Jod  who  gave  us  the  victory  ! 
After  repeated  Calls, 

MAJOR  GENERAL  GEORGE  G.  MEADE, 

who  was  seated  in  a  private  hox,  arose  and  said 

My  FRIENDS:  —  I  thank  you  sincerely  for  thus  honoring  me  with  your  calls, 
and  the  more  since  I  am  only  a  spectator  here.  We  are  assembled  to-night  to  do 
honor  to  one,  the  artist,  who  has  painted  the  greatest  battle  of  the  war.  It  would 
be  inappropriate  in  me  to  say  anything  about  the  battle,  and  particularly  after 
the  eloquent  manner  in  which  you  have  just  heard  it  described  ;  hut  I  take  this 
occasion  to  bear  my  testimony  to  the  correctness  and  fidelity  with  which  this 
picture  has  been  painted,  and  to  the  great  labors  of  the  artist,  Mr.  Bothermel.  I 
have  had  some  connection  with  the  picture,  so  far  as  having  been  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Rothermel  since  the  time  he  was  appointed  to  paint  it.  When  1  first  met 
him  and  learned  he  was  to  paint  the  ISattle  of  Gettysburg,  I  said  to  him  what 
really  was  my  sincere  view,  that  I  thought  he  had  almost  as  hard  a  task  as  I 
had  to  win  the  battle  [applause]  ;  and  if  you  will  remember  all  the  while, 
that  this  battle  covered  a  space  of  over  twenty  square  miles,  that  it  lasted 
for  three  days,  that  it  had  involved  in  it  over  two  hundred  thousand  men, 
and  that  it  was  to  he  put  on  a  space  of  '.V2  by  18  feet,  you  will  see  that  the  artist 
had  a  great  "leal  to  do.  In  thefirsl  place  he  had  to  select  ,-omc  special  and  particular 
episode  of  this  battle,  it  being  impossible  to  show  the  whole;  and  then,  with  great 
judgment,  he  had  to  present  a  scene  full  of  the  life  and  energy  and  strength  of  a 
great  battle-field.  After  that  selection  there  were  many  things  not  known  to  many 
of  you,  not  known  to  him  who  was  to  labor  in  the  description  of  the  episode.  Jle 
was  perfectly  ignorant  of  the  battle  in  all  its  details;  he  had  to  study  out  every 
thing  he  desired  to  represent.  J  lis  difficulties  were  great,  and  there  were  great  diffi- 
culties in  the  way  of  his  getting  accurate  information.  The  persons  to  whom  be 
applied  could  hardly  give  it,  though  engaged  in  the  conflict,  for  in  the  excitement 
'of  battle  men  take  hut  little  notice  of  things  transpiring  around  them.  1,  invself, 
have  not  seen  things  on  the  battle-field,  and  often  when  asked  hi  relation  to  them, 
L  always  say  that  I  can't  say  they  didn't  take  place,  hut  that  J  didn't  see  them. 

The  Gerieral  here  at  some  length  dwelt  upon  this  difficulty  and  other  diffi- 
culties in  the  way  of  the  artist,  and  said  that  the  only  error  in  the  picture  was  one 
in  relation  to  himself  The  artist  had  painted  him  on  it,  when  in  reality  he  was 
not  on  the  scene  at  the  moment  of  time  selected,  not  arriving  there  until  some 


22 

few  minutes  afterwards.  He  then,  referring  to  different  points  of  the  picture, 
described  the  battle  in  connection  with  it,  and  concluded  his  address  by  saying 
that  it  taught  one  lesson  strongly,  among  others — the  evil  and  the  horror  of  war. 

MR.  M'CULLOUGH 

was  then  introduced,  and  read  in  excellent  style  Janvier's  poem  on  the  "  Battle 
of  Gettysburg."     He  was  warmly  applauded. 

GENERAL  SHERMAN, 

who  had  left  the  seat  he  at  first  had  occupied  in  the  house,  and  was  now  with 
General  Meade  in  the  box,  was  then  loudly  called  for,  and  responded  in  a  few 
remarks : 

He  said  it  was  hardly  fair  to  call  on  him  when  he  was  only  a  spectator.  He 
had  not  been  at  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  but  at  that  time  was  far  away  at  Vicks- 
burg.  Upon  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  he  passed  a  handsome  compliment  for 
her  liberality  and  patriotism,  in  having  preserved  on  canvas  a  scene  of  the  battle 
which  had  been  fought  on  her  soil,  and  expressed  a  hope  that  other  States  would 
imitate  her  example.  He  agreed  with  the  words  of  General  Meade,  that  many 
good  lessons  could  be  gathered  from  such  a  painting,  especially  to  the  young, 
chief  among  which  was  a  lesson  about  the  evils  of  war. 

When  he  had  concluded  the  audience  dispersed. 


PBOCEEE1NGS 


.itagtuauia  ^cadcmg  of  fftc  fine  Irfa, 

IN  RELATION  TO  THE  FIRST  EXHIBITION  OF 

P,  F,  Ruthermel's  Picture  ol'tho  "Battle  of  Gettysburg." 


■  Philadelphia  September  12th,  18TC 

Stated  meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Ftue 

Art-. 

Present — Messrs.  Cope,  (President,)  Harrison,  Claghorn,  Stevenson,  Gibson, 
Btruthers  and  Sartain  ^Secretary). 

The  minutes  of  the  la<t  meeting  were  read  and  approved.  After  the  regular 
business  was  finished,  Mr.  Harrison  stated  to  the  meeting  his  views  relative  in 
the  propriety  of  taking  such  steps  as  would  keep  the  Academy  before  the  public, 
and  <lo  away  with  the  idea  that  the  Institution  was  entirely  inactive.  A  favor- 
able opportunity  for  doing  so,  was  now  presented  in  the  near  approach  to  comple- 
tion of  Mr.  Kcitliermel's  picture  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  which  is  to  be 
exhibited  to  the  public  in  this  city. 

The  importance  and  merit  of  the  work  itself,  added  to  the  circumstance  that  it 
will  belong  to  the  State,  and  was  painted  to  adorn  the  State  Capitol,  will  doubtless 
render  its  exhibition  an  event  in  the  history  of  Art  in  this  city.  Should  its  exhi- 
bition be  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Academy,  and  in  a  gallery  provid<  d 
therefor  by  the  Institution,  the  effect  would  be  to  reflect  credit  on  the  Academy, 
and  aid  it-  future  operations.  After  general  interchange  of  views  on  the  subject, 
it  was  on  motion,  Ilrsolral,  that  a  committee  be  appointed  by  the  Presidenl  to 
consider  the  matter;  and  the  committee  was  then  appointed  as  follows:  Messrs, 
Harrison,  Struthers,  Gibson  and  Morris." 


"Philadelphia  October  17th,  187  ■ 
Special  meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts. 
/'  M-     -.    Cope,    Harrison,    Claghorn,    Sartain,    Stevenson,     Fell     and 

Gibson. 

After  the  regular  business  was  over,  Mr.  Claghorn  called  the  attention  of  the 
Directors  to  the  circumstance  that  Mr.  Rothermel's  picture  of  the    Ba 
Gettysburg  was  nearly  ready  for  exhibition,  and  that  the  artist  had  succeeded  in 


24 

obtaining  .i  place  whereon  to  erect  a  building  in  "which  to  display  it  properly.  He 
thought  a  work  of  such  importance  produced  in  our  midst,  called  for  the  adop- 
tion of  unusual  measures  in  first  opening  it  to  the  public,  and  that  it  was  proper 
that  the  Academy  should  connect  itself  with  the  occasion,  so  as  to  assist  in 
imparting  to  it  as  much  eclat  as  possible. 

The  Directors  entertained  this  sentiment,  as  was  shoAvn  by  their  action  in  rela- 
tion to  the  subject  at  their  meeting  September  12th.  It  was  accordingly  on 
motion,  Resolved,  that  the  entire  Board  of  Directors  be  constituted  a  committee  of 
the  whole  to  take  charge  of  the  arrangements  for  the  opening  exhibition  of  Mr. 
Rothermel's  picture,  and  that  a  letter  be  addressed  by  the  President  to  the 
artist,  asking  that  they  may  be  permitted  to  acton  the  occasion  in  the  manner 
proposed." 


LETTER  OF  CALEB  COPE.  ESQ.,  TO  P.  F.  ROTHERMEL. 

"Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  Philadelphia,  Nov.  10th,  1870. 

P.   F.   ROTHERMEL,   ESQ. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  friends  and  fellow  members  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of 
the  Fine  Arts,  have  a  just  pride  in  the  extraordinary  success  which  has  attended 
your  efforts  to  portray  the  leading  incident  in  the  great  Battle  of  Gettysburg. 

A  work  so  full  of  merit,  emanating  from  the  patriotic  sentiment  of  our  noblt~ 
Commonwealth,  and  appealing  directly  to  the  warmest  sympathies  of  the  peopL 
should  not  be  permitted  to   come  before  our  citizens  under  the  circumstances 
attendant  upon  the  exhibition  of  an  ordinary  painting. 

For  your  sake,  therefore,  and  for  the  universal  interest  felt  in  the  subject,  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  this  Institution,  have  informally  desired  me  to  request  that 
you  will  allow  the  first  public  display  of  your  great  Picture,  to  be  made  under 
their  auspices,  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  on  some  evening  during  the  next  month. 

Anticipating  a  favorable  answer, 

I  am,  very  truly  yours, 

CALEB  COPE,  Pres." 


LETTER  OF  P.  F.  ROTHERMEL  TO  CALEB  COPE,  ESQ. 

"  Philadelphia,  November  14th,  1870. 

Caleb  Cope,  Esq., 

President  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts, 
My  dear  Sir: — Your  communication  on  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  in  relation  to  the  Picture  of  the  'Battle 
of  Gettysburg,'  I  esteem  as  an  exceeding  high  compliment  to  my  earnest  effort  at 
representing  an  episode  in  that  great  event  upon  canvas. 


2--» 

Abu  evidence  of  their  favorable  opinion  of  my  work  and  as  a  disposition  to  footer 
American  Art,  I  frankly  accept  the  proposal  of  the  Board  you  reprc  cr.t,  (hat 
the  Picture  be  opened  to  the  public,  under  their  auspices!  at  die  Academy  of 
Music,  in  the  month  of  I  tecember. 
Aocepl  my  thanks  for  your  kind  expressions. 

Very  respectfully  yours,  Ac., 

P.  P.  ROTHEKMEL." 


'■  Philadelphia  November  18th,  1870. 

Bpeeial  meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  ofthe  Fine 
Arts,  as  a  committee  of  the  whole  on  the  exhibition  of  Mr.  Rothermel's  Picture 
ofthe  Battle  of  Gettysburg. 

Present — Messrs.  Cope,  Claghorn,  Struthers,  Morris  and  Bartain.  Mr.  Cope  in 
the  chair,  Mr.  Bartain,  Secretary. 

The  Chairman  stated  that  the  meeting  had  hecn  convened  for  the  purpo-v  of 
taking  anion  on  the  subject  set  forth  in  the  resolution  adopted  at  the  last  meeting 
ofthe  Directors,  relating  to  the  opening  exhibition  of  Mr.  Rothermel's  picture. 

It  beim:  deemed  advisable  to  confide  the  preparation  to  a  Bub-committee,  it 
Was  on  motion,  Resolved,  that  a  sub-committee  of  three,  he  appointed  by  the 
chairman,  to  attend  to  the  details  of  the  opening  of  Mr.  Rothermel's  picture  of 
tin'  Battle  of  Gettysburg  at  the  Academy  of  Music  The  following  gentlemen 
were  appointed  as  a  sub-committee,  "...  Messrs  claghorn,  Harrison  and  Struthers." 

The  first  official  act  of  the  above  Bub-committee,  Mas  to  address  the  following 
letter  to  the  I  tovernox  of  the  Commonwealth  : 

"Pennsylvania  Academy  ofthe  Fine  Art.-,  December  2d,  1870. 

To  Hi?  Excellency,  John-  W.  Geary, 
Governor  <>i  Pennsj  Ivania. 

Sir  : — The  undersigned,  a  committee  appointed  in  accordance  with  proceedings 

printed  on  the  annexed  slip,*  most  particularly  desire  that  you  may  make  it 
convenient  to  he  present  on  the  occasion  mentioned.  As  *  lovernor  of  our  nolde 
Commonwealth,  to  the  patriotism  and  liberality  of  whose  Legislature  we  owe  this 
great  work  of  Historic  Art,  and  as  a  prominent  and  distinguished  actor  in  the 
momentous  struggle,  which  it  bo  well  portrays,  it  seems  specially  fitting  that 
you.  Sir,  should  be  present  and  take  part  in  the  proceedings  attendant  upon  the 
fir-t  introduction  ofthe  picture  to  the  public  We,  therefore,  earnestly  request 
you  to  be  present  at  the  Academy  of  Music  in  this  city,  on  the  evening  of  Tues- 
day, December  :20th.  In  due  time  a  programme  will  be  sent  to  you  setting  forth 
the  character  of  the  ceremonies. 

Very  respectfully, 

3  \-i  es  L.  <  £laghorn, 

"William  STRUTHERS, 
Joseph  Harrison,  Jr., 

Gommittet  of  Arrangement." 

*  EBipcontah  pe'a  letter  to  Mr.  Rothermel,  and  reply  of  the  latter.    -  nd2L 


26 

COPY  OF  LETTER  SENT  TO  INVITED  GUESTS. 

Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  Philadelphia,  Dec.  2d,  1S70. 


To 

In  a  spirit  of  commendable  patriotism  and  liberality,  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  at  the  close  of  the  civil  war.  ordered  from  our  distinguished 
artist,  P.  F.  Rothermel,  a  Picture  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  of  such  dimen- 
sions as  would  give  a  good  idea  of  this  great  and  decisive  struggle.  The  Picture 
is  now  finished.  The  friends  of  the  artist,  deeming  his  success  so  striking  in  the 
great  work  which  he  has  conceived  and  executed,  wish  to  present  it  to  the  public 
for  the  first  time  in  such  way  as  will  mark  the  event  as  an  epoch  in  American 
Art,  and  as  an  appeal  to  the  patriotism  of  our  people  in  all  coming  time.  The 
Picture,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  will 
i>e  unveiled  at  the  Academy  of  Music  in  this  city,  on  the  Evening  of  December, 
20th  inst.,  accompanied  by  appropriate  ceremonies. 

You  are  respectfully  invited  to  be  present  on  this  occasion.  If  accepted,  an 
early  answer  is  requested,  so  that  tickets  may  be  sent  you  in  due  time. 

Respectfully, 


James  L.  Claghorx,     ") 

Joseph  Harrison,  Jb,  [  J£S5l 

William  Struthers,     J 


"  Philadelphia  December  17  th,  1870s 
Special  meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine 
Arts,  as  a  committee  of  the  whole  on  the  opening  exhibition  of  Rothermel's  pic- 
ture of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg : 

P-csent — Messrs.  Claghorn,  Jessup,  Struthers  and  Sartain.  Mr,  Jessup  in  the 
chair.     Mr.  Sartain,  Secretary. 

Mr.  Claghbrn  stated  that  the  meeting  had  been  called  to  hear  a  report  from 
the  sub-committee  of  all  that  had  been  accomplished  since  its  appointment,  and 
also  to  settle  some  matters  of  detail  necessary  to  be  arranged,  prior  to  the  evening 
of  the  20th  inst.,  when  the  opening  exhibition  would  take  place  at  the  Academy 
of  Music.     A  verbal  reixtrt  was  then  made. 

The  names  of  invited  guests  were,  to  some  extent,  classified  in  the  general  ap- 
propriation of  locality.  It  was  agreed  that  the  invited  guests  should  first  assem- 
ble in  the  Foyer  of  the  Academy,  and  afterwards  proceed  from  thence  to  the 
seats  assigned  to  them  in  the  house.  It  was  also  agreed  that  the  members  of  the 
committee  wear  a  distinctive  badge  (a  small  ribbon  on  the  button-hole),  on  the 
evening  of  the  exhibition,  and  that  they  should  meet  in  the  Foyer  at  seven  o'clock 
precisely,  when  their  several  duties  should  be  made  known  to  them.  It  was 
further  agreed,  that  the  Committee  of  the  whole,  should  hold  a  meeting  at  twelve 
o'clock  noon,  on  Tuesday  the  20th  of  December,  and  the  Secretary  was  directed  to 
:  -quest  punctual  attendance  at  both  meetings,  especially  in  the  evening." 


l7 

D  Oth   181  i.  VJ  ...  1  .,k  do  n. 

ill  meeting  of  the  Director!  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  oi  tin-  Pine 
Art-,  ;i-  a  committee  of  the  \\  bole  on  tin-  exhibition  of  Mi.  RothermeTa  Picture. 

Messrs,  Claghorn,  Struthers,  l>r.  Levis,  Jessup  and  Bartain.    Dr. 
Lewis  in  the  chair,     Mr.  6  .rotary. 

Various  matters  of  detail  came  up  am!  were  disposed  of,  and  then  particular 
seats  were  marked  off  for  each  individual  guest  who  had  accept  d  ,  n  Inn  a-  halt"  past 
three  o'clock  the  committe*  adjourned  to  meet  again  in  the  evening,  at  the  ap- 
pointed hour. 

J'lu-  Directors  met  in  the  evening  at  the  Foyer  of  the  Academy  of  Music,  and 
at  tlif  time  appointed,  proceeded  with  the  invited  guests  to  the  Beats  reserved  for 
in  the  body  of  the  house.  The  1 'resident  of  the  United  State-  had  been  in- 
\ited  to  be  present,  but  public  duties  prevented  his  attendance.  Among  the  dis- 
tinguished guests  present,  were  Qeneral  William  T.  Sherman,  General  Mead.-, 
General  George  Cadwallader,  General  Patterson,  Surgeon  Neal,  General  Van 
\  ..et.  General  Owen,  General  Collis,  General  Mulholland,  Admiral  Turner, 
Commodore  Adams,  Colonel  Wm.  McMichael,  Colonel  Wm.  H.  Harrison,  Col- 
onel  Brinton,  Colonel  Mitchel,  Judge ( ladwallader,  Judge  Ludlow,  Judge  Allison, 
Judge  Pierce,  Senator  Connell,  and  Messrs.  McConaghy,  Markley,  Kerns  and 

Qlatz,  Committee  of  the  Legislature,  ordering  the  picture.  lion.  Morton 
McMichael,  Hon.  John  W.  Forney,  Bishop  Wood,  Lev.  Mr.  Suddards,  Lev. 
Mr.  Purness,  Lev.  Mr.  Hutter,  Albert  Ilierstadt,  Tbeo.  Cuyler,  Thad.  Norris, 
W.  II.  Eisenbrey,  W.  H.  Harrison,  David  D.  Paul,  Thomas  Hieks,  J.  II.  B. 
Litn. he,  Wm.  V.  MeKean,  A.I  Drexel,  Daniel  Dougherty,  H.  C.  Harrison, 
Dawson  Coleman,  Wm.  B.  Mann,  Coleman  Sellars,  Joseph  Patterson,  Ldward 
Patterson,  P.  I  Dreer,  Alfred  Jessup;  with  many  other  gentlemen.  Many 
distinguished  ladies  of  our  city  and  State,  were  also  present. 


otpuktiotts  oie1  the  :f:r,:ess. 


From  the  Public  Ledger,  December  2%th,  1870. 

Oor  Own  Artists. — There  Is  now  on  public  exhibition  in  this  city  Rotherrnel's 
great  •work,  representing  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg — the  largest  battle  Picture,  with 
perhaps  one  exception,  in  the  world.  Its  magnitude,  however,  is  not  its  chief 
merit.  In  conception  and  execution  it  well  deserves  the  praise  it  has  largely 
ieceived  from  competent  art  critics,  as  being  perhaps  the  best  as  well  as  the  largest 
war  picture  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Its  recent  exhibition  at  the  Academy  of 
Music  in  this  ci;y,  when  it  was  first  presented  to  the  public  view,  was  intended  by 
the  Committee  of  the  Academy  of  Fine  Arts,  who  directed  and  arranged  that 
exhibition,  to  do  something  more  than  to  commend  the  artist,  by  availing  them- 
selves of  that  opportunity  to  do  honor  to  American  Art. 

On  that  evening,  at  the  Academy,  honored  as  the  occasion  was,  by  the  pre- 
sence of  that  great  commander  whose  brilliant  and  conquering  march  across  the 
continent  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  South  Atlantic  coast,  has  made  the  name 
of  Sherman  illustrious;  with  that  other  illustrious  soldier,  Meade,  whose  name 
is  identified  with  the  great  battle  of  Gettysburg ;  with  brave  officers  and  gallant 
men  there  who  shared  in  that  mighty  and  successful  struggle;  with  solemn  mem- 
ories of  the  dead  lemaining  on  that  bloody  field,  whose  places  are  missed  in 
many  a  sorrowing  hourehold — with  these  associations  and  memories,  the  com- 
mittee felt  that  something  more  might  be  done,  than  to  present  any  one  name  as 
the  sole  object  of  praise  or  homage.  As  we  understood  that  meeting,  its  purpose 
was  to  do  honor  to  the  power  and  value  of  American  art,  as  illustrated  in  that 
l?rge  and  magnificent  picture,  and  in  view  of  that  canvas  and  the  expression 
which  Mr.  Kothermel  has  given  to  it,  and  in  view  of  what  our  other  artists  have 
done  and  are  now  doing,  have  we  not  been,  are  we  not  now  as  a  people  too  indif- 
ferent to  the  culture  and  encouragement  of  the  higher  arts  in  our  country? 
Have  we  not  American  art,  not  only  in  the  sense  of  our  country  being  the  resi- 
dence of  artists,  but,  also,  in  the  sense  of  the  spirit  and  tone  of  their  work  cor- 
responding to  the  ideal  of  our  national  greatness  and  glory,  and  of  the  lofty 
hopes  of  the  future  of  our  Republic  ?  Have  we  not  had  prophets  with  us  who- 
received  no  honor  at  our  hands  ?  From  this  quiet  city  of  ours,  in  its  earlier 
times,  there  departed  West  and  Leslie.  Here,  they  were  unhonored  and  unsung, 
and  would  proliably  have  remained  so.  Abroad,  they  acquired  great  success  and 
high  renown. 

We  do  not  forget  that  there  have  been,  and  are  now  in  our  city,  liberal  gentle- 
men who  have  given  their  time  and  money,  to  the  development  of  native  art,  and 
•"=e  freely  give  them  praise.  But  much  more  should  be  done  in  this  direction, 
*>nd  we  would  stimulate  the  thought  as  the  main  purpose  of  these  remarks,  that 
it  is  a  duty  of  American  citizenship  to  promote  American  art  and  encourage 
native  artists,  for  it  is  doubtless  true  that  we  have  in  our  country  men  of  artistic 
power,  with  great  capacity  to  express  their  conce]  t'ons  on  canvas  and  in  marble, 
who  lack  nothing  but  the  indispensable  encouragement  and  opportunity  of  doing 


29 

bo.    Surely  tre  have  subjects  for  the  pencil  of  the  landscape  painter,  at  shown  bj 
Chun  li,  Bterstadt  and  others,  and  we  bave themes  varied  and  sublime  for  histori 
cal  art,  as  Rothermel  has  now  shown.    The  State  of  Pennsylvania,  through  its 
!  iturej  has  done  well  in  ordering  1 1 » i  —  picture  to  i  ommemorate  the  important 

and  decisive  battle  on  Its  own  soil. 

The  value  of  the  arts  of  painting,  sculpture  and  architecture,  as  giving  perman- 
ence to  the  n  i  ords  by  which  a  knowledge  of  how  men  lived  and  what  they  did, 
can  be  transmitted  to  future  ages,  should  nol  be  disregarded.  We  see  and  under- 
stand ancimt  RomebetteT  b  it  her  Coliseum, forum,  and  ancient  temples, 
although  in  ruins.  Farther  hack,  the  Pyramids,  obelisks,  and  sculptured  and 
painted  tombs  of  Egypt,  tell  us  nearly  all  we  know  of  the  high  civilization  of  the 
remote  antiquity  of  that  interesting  country.  Later  than  either,  the  religious 
edifices,  and  historical  and  religious  art  of  the  middle  ages  of  Continental  Europe, 
remain  to  the  world,  associated  with  the  names  of  Michael  Angelo,  Raphael, 
Giotto  and  Titian,  while  the  names  of  many  of  the  civil  rulers  of  that  day  and 

their  deeds  are  almost   forgotten, 

Hymns  of  praise  are  being  sung  almost  daily  in  honor  of  our  abundant  energy 
in  developing  the  material  resources  of  our  country,  and  the  glory  with  which 
we  are  crowning  the  day  in  which  we  live.  We  have  tunnelled  great  moun- 
tains, bridged  mighty  rivers,  bound  the  old  and  new  worlds  together,  and  the 
Atlantic  Coast  to  the  far  Pacific  Ocean,  and  have  carried  our  Western  civiliza- 
tion to  stand  face  to  face,  with  that  older  civilization  of  the  Asiatic  East.  Wc 
have  exhumed  hundreds  of  millions  of  tons  of  coal,  and  have  wrought  into  form 
other  hundred  of  millions  of  tons  of  iron,  and  we  have  duly  registered  and  re- 
corded all  this  with  much  self-approval  in  statistics.  And  this  is  noble;  but  it  is 
not  all.  Our  life  here  has  higher  purposes  and  enjoyments  than  those  created  by 
the  blast  of  the  furnace  and  the  rolling  of  the  wheel.  The  value  of  a  refined  and 
elevated  public  sentiment  cannot  be  estimated  in  dollars  and  cents.  In  our  devo- 
tion to  the  material  wc  may  base  neglected  too  much  the  culture  of  the  true,  the 
good  and  the  beautiful.  The  one  should  be  done  and  the  other  not  left  undone. 
Let  us  see  to  it  that  we  make  some  worthy  effort  in  the  right  direction.  We  have 
men  in  our  country,  and  in  our  own  city,  "native  here  and  to  the  manor  born," 
with  large  capacity  and  fervent  love  of  art,  who,  unknown  to  the  bustling  world 
outside  of  their  quiet  Btudies,  are  coloring  the  canvas,  chiselling  the  marble, 
moulding  the  metal  into  picturesque  and  beautiful  forms — men  capable  of  giving 
expression  to  the  heroic  sentiment  in  our  national  character  and  history;  who,  if 
the  citizens  of  this  republic  will  do  their  duty  to  them,  will  with  Rothermel,  be- 
queath to  the  world  the  creations  of  their  genius  to  give  delight  and  instruction  to 
coming  generations  of  men. 


30 


CORRESPONDENCE    IN    REGARD    TO    MR,    ROTHERMElS 
RIGHT  TO   EXHIBIT   HIS    PICTURE. 

LETTER  OF  JOSEPH  HARRISON,  JR. 

"221  South  ISth  Street,  Philadelphia,  December  24th,  1ST0 
To Esq., 

My  Dear  Sir: — A  lover  of  Art  myself,  and  one  who  thinks  its  encouragement 
a  necessity,  if  we  wish  to  keep  pace  with  the  civilization  of  the  refined  nations 
of  the  world,  I  have  felt,  with  many  others,  a  just  pride  in  watching  Mr. 
Rothermel's  Painting  from  its  commencement  until  the  unveiling  at  the  Academy 
of  Music.  I  think  the  genius  that  could  conceive,  and  the  hand  that  could 
execute  such  a  work,  confer  honor  upon  our  city,  our  State  and  the  whole  nation. 
It  could  not  have  been  ordered  like  a  bale  of  goods.  We  must  wait,  until  some 
one  appea  rs  who  can  render  possible  such  a  result  as  the  Picture  now  before  us. 
I  had  great  faith  in  Mr.  Rothermel's  ability,  when  the  Commission  appointed  "by 
our  Legislature,  ordered  the  Painting  from  him;  and  I  now  believe  that  no  artist, 
living  or  dead,  of  our  own  country  could  have  produced  so  fine  a  werk.  Kay, 
more,  with  a  knowledge  of  the  best  works  of  the  kind  abroad,  I  have  no  hesitation 
in  saying,  that  no  artist  of  our  time  could  have  painted  what  Mr.  Rothermel 
started  to  portray,  better,  if  as  well  as  he  has  done  it.  At  this  moment  there 
seems  to  be  a  general  desire  on  the  part  of  the  public  to  see  the  Picture,  and  the 
artist  has  adopted  a  course  that  will  enable  them  to  do  this.  It  appears,  how- 
ever, from  the  remarks  of  a  few  persons,  and  from  statements  in  some  of  the 
journals,  that  there  is  a  question  as  to  Mr.  Rothermel's  legal  and  moral  right  to 
exhibit  his  picture  for  pay  or  profit,  previous  to  the  middle  of  next  July,  the 
term  fixed  by  the  contract  for  its  delivery  to  the  state.  Those  who  know  the 
artist  best,  know  that  under  no  consideration  could  he  be  induced  to  infringe 
either  law  or  morals,  in  a  matter  of  this  kind.  If  the  Painting  was  sent  to  Harris- 
burg  at  this  time,  it  is  well  known  that  there  is  no  place  in  the  capitol  building 
where  it  can  be  properly  shown,  and  it  might  remain  rolled  up  for  years,  to  its 
probable  serious  injury,  before  a  fitting  place  can  be  provided  for  it.  In  the 
meantime,  that  portion  of  the  people  of  our  State  and  city,  who  would  be 
willing  to  incur  even  the  expense  of  going  to  Harrisburg  to  see  it,  would  be 
debarred  this  pleasure. 

The  advent  of  this  Picture  marks  an  epoch,  as  I  think,  in  American  historic 
art.  It  should  not  for  a  moment  be  hidden  under  a  bushel.  I  have  never 
doubted,  under  the  circumstances,  the  legal  and  moral  right  of  Mr.  Rothermel  to 
exhibit  his  Picture  for  his  own  benefit,  when  and  where  he  pleases,  until  the  full 
term  fixed  for  its  delivery.  But,  to  confirm  my  opinion,  and  for  my  own  satisfac- 
tion, I  have  asked  the  advice  of  an  eminent  counsellor  of  our  city,  whose  letter  to 
me  I  enclose.    I  think  his  letter  disposes  of  the  subject. 

Very  truly  yours, 

JOSEPH  HARRISON,  JR." 


LETTER  FROM  THEOOORE  Cu.'LER    ESQ.,  TO  jOSEPH  HARRISON.  JR. 

•'7(4  Wikhut  Street,  Deosmbei  Mtb,  L870 

To  Job  pii  B  uirisox,  .)k.,  i 

M\    I  >i  tr  Sir  :-- You  ask   DM  whether  OUT  mutual  friend,  Mi.  II. >t ln-i  inel,  ill 

vi»w  of  his  relations  to  the  State,  baa  ■  right  to  exhibit  bis  Picture  of  the  Battle 
of  Gettysburg,  and  I  answer,  That  I  entertain  no  doubt  that  he  is  fully  entitled, 
both  In  law  and  En  morals,  to  <l>>  so.  It  ought  to  be  deemed  a  sufficient  reason  to 
say,  that  it  was  distinctly  understood  between  Mr.  Bothermel  and  the  Committee; 
or  more  properly  Commission,  appointed  by  the  Legislature,  at  the  time  the] 
niaili-  the  contract  with  him,  that  he  should  have  this  rij,'ht.  I  am  assured  by  a 
distinguished  Senator  (Honorable  Geo  Connell),  who  is  a  member  of  this  Com< 
mission,  that  such  is  the  (act  I  have  further  and  conclusive  evidence  of  it 
before  me,  in  the  form  of  s  Resolution,  adopted  unanimously  by  the  Com- 
mission  early  in  last  June,  in  the  following  words:  'Philadelphia,  June  2, 1870. 
At  :i  meeting  of  the  Committee  upon  the  Painting  of  the  Rattle  of  Gettysburg. 
appointed  by  the  Legislature  on  behalf  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  it  was 
unanimously  Resolved,  That  in  accordance  with  professional  usage  and  as  some 
expression  of  our  high  appreciation  of  the  success  of  the  artist,  P.  F.  Rothermel, 
in  the  execution  of  this  <  treat  Historical  Painting,  this  Committee  by  this  action, 
consent  and  authorise  the  artist  to  exhibit  the  Painting  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg 
in  such  of  the  oities  of  this  State,  and  within  the  United  States,  as  shall  be 
agreeable  to  him,  and  receive  the  proceeds  of  such  exhibition  for  his  personal 
benefit  Attest,  (ieo.  Connell,  D.  McConaughy,  James  N,  Kerns,  A.  I)  Markley, 
A.  EJiertand  Glats. 

It  would  seem  to  be  superfluous  to  add  arguments  drawn  from  the  law  in 
support  of  a  right  which  rests  upon  an  express  contract,  but  if  it  is  important  to 
do  so,  I  might  add  that  Mr.  Rothermel's  Contract  provides  for  the  delivery  of  the 
Picture  in  July,  1871.  Until  that  period  arrives,  it  is  his  property,  and  not  the 
property  Of  the  State,  and  he  may  do  with  his  own  as  he  wills. 

It  had  ever  been  the  custom  of  artists  painting  great  historical  works  for 
public  authorities,  to  exhibit  their  Pictures  for  a  limited  time,  before  delivering  it 
to  the  purchaser.  Trumbull  did  so  with  each  of  his  Paintings,  which  now  till 
panels  in  the  Rotunda  of  the  Capitol  at  Washington.  In  his  Autobiography  this 
fact  is  stated,  and  his  correspondence  with  the  Government  authorities  fully 
recognizing  this  right,  is  given.  This  was  the  case  also  with  Weir's  great  Picture 
of  the  Embarkation  of  the  Pilgrims,  which  tills  another  panel  of  the  same 
Rotunda.  Such  also  was  the  case  with  Singleton  Copley's  Picture  of  the  Assault 
upon  Gibralter,  painted  for  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  London. 

It  is  believed  that  such  examples  might  be  multiplied  indefinitely.  Thi> 
Picture  of  Mr.  Rothermel's  represents  more  than  four  years'  of  earnest  and  absorb- 
ing thought  and  study,  by  a  man  of  genius.  Why  should  the  State,  and  why 
should  any  citizen  of  the  State,  begrudge  him  the  sum,  be  it  much  or  be  it  small, 
which  its  exhibition  for  a  little  time  may  realize  for  him.  Let  us  rejoice  that  in 
a  country  where  art  and  taste  are  just  beginning  to  be  rewarded,  an  opportunity 
occurs  which  enables  the  citizen  to  prove  his  conviction  of  the  fact,  that  men  ol 
genius  in  any  department  of  art  and  taste,  are  the  truest  and  the  greatest  treasure- 
of  the  State. 

Truly  yours, 

THRO.  CUYLER." 


BOCEEDINGS 


jowpoti  mrtirt  atul  the  pjgislahtrc  of  :9ennsgIcantH, 


RELATING    TO    THE 


•pICTUF(E   OF  THE   ^/.TTLE   OF  -CJETTYSBUF^Q. 


(^OVERNOE  CTJRTIN,  the  earnest  and  reliable  friend  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Qj  Soldiers  from  the  commencement  to  the  end  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion, 
and  at  its  close,  the  originator  and  practical  advocate  of  the  wise  Legislative  sys- 
tem for  the  support  and  education  of  the  soldiers'  orphans,  suggested  an  historical 
painting  commemorative  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg. 

In  his  Annual  Message  to  the  Legislature  in  January,  1866,  anxious  and 
thoughtful  to  preserve  in  an  enduring  form,  the  tbeme  of  the  decisive  and  victori- 
ous struggle  of  the  Great  battle  of  the  Rebellion,  he  recommended  as  follows : — 

"As  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  resulted  in  a  glorious  victory,  and  was  in  fact 
the  beginning  of  the  end  of  the  war,  and  occurred  on  the  soil  of  the  Common- 
wealth, I  think  it  would  be  well  that  it  should  be  commemorated  by  an  historical 
painting,  to  be  placed  in  the  Capitol  of  the  State;  and  I  recommend  that  the 
Legislature  take  measures  for  that  purpose." 

The  Governor's  suggestion  and  recommendation  was  promptly  adopted  by 
the  Legislature,  in  the  following  proceedings  therein : 

Feb.  7, 1866.    Journal  H.  R.,  1866.    V.  189. 
J.  N.  Kerns  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  thrice  read,  considered 
and  adopted,  viz. : 

Resolved,  (if  the  Senate  concur)  That  so  much  of  the  Governor's  Message  as 
refers  to  the  Report  of  David  Wills,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Soldiers'  National 
Cemetery,  at  Gettysburg,  relative  to  the  procuring  of  a  commemorative  historical 
Painting,  to  be.  placed  in  the  Capitol  of  the  State,  be  referred  to  a  joint  Committee 
of  three  Members  of  each  House. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Kerns,  Markley  and  Allen  be  the  said  Committee,  and 
that  the  Clerk  inform  the  Senate  of  the  same. 

Feb.  13,  Ibid.,  p.  253.  The  Speaker  announced  that  he  had  appointed  Messrs. 
Kerns,  Markley  and  Allen  the  Committee,  to  vvbom  was  referred  so  much  of  the 
Governor's  Annual  Message  as  refers  to  a  Memorial  Painting,  descriptive  of  the 
Battle  of  Gettysburg. 

Feb.  10,  Ibid,  p.  290.  The  Senate  concurred  in  the  resolution  of  the  Houser 
with  an  amendment  in  which  the  House  was  requested  to  concur.  The  House 
■  cncnrred,  and  the  resolution  was  made  to  read  as  follows,  viz.: 


:;:; 

Itenlved,  I  it"  the  Senate  concur)  That  so  mocfa  of  the  <  iovernor'a  Messaf 

rofers  to  the  procuring  of  a  < imemoratiTe  historical  Painting  of  the  Battle  of 

Gettysburg,  t"  be  placed  in  the  Capitol  of  the  State,  be  referred  to  a  joint  Com- 
mittee <'t"  three  Members  <>i"  each  I  louse ;  and  thai  before  entering  into  any  contract 
upon  the  subject,  the  Committee  shall  report  to  their  respective  Houses,  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  painting,  it-  probable  cost,  and  the  name  of  the  artist. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Connell,  McConaaghy  and  Clymer,  be  the  Committee 
on  the  part  of  the  Senate.  Said  amendment  was  twice  read,  considered  and  con- 
curred in,  and  ordered  that  the  Clerk  Inform  the  Senate  of  the  same. 

April  10,  Ibid,  p.  981.  J.N.  Kerns,  from  the  Select  Committee  on  the  subject, 
made  report  in  relation  to  the  procuring  of  an  historical  Tainting,  commemorative 
of  the  Battle  dfGettysburg,  which  was  read  as  follows,  viz.: 

That  in  pursuance  of  their  appointment,  they  have,  in  conjunction  with  the 
Governor,  consulted  with  ■  large  number  of  artists  and  other  gentlemen,  whose 
opinions  are  entitled  to  great  weight,  for  the  reason  that  tiny  have  for  year-  given 
the  1'iNi  Am-  special  attention  in  our  own  country,  and  also  in  the  old  world, 
where  they  have  spent  much  time  in  examining  the  various  galleries  of  Art;  they 
have  also  had  the  views  of  the  distinguished  Ck)mmander-in-Chief  of  our  army  in 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  of  other  superior  officers,  who  participated,  with 
illustrious  valor,  in  that  ever  memorable  conflict,  which  it  is  proposed  to  com- 
memorate by  Art. 

The  great  importance  of  the  subject,  the  deep  interest  felt  in  securing  a  work 
which  shall  be  alike  creditable  to  the  State  and  honorable  to  the  heroic  com- 
mander-, whose  nanus  are  indelibly  associated  with  the  battle,  and  gratifying  to 
the  tens  of  thousands  of  our  gallant  soldiers,  embracing  more  than  seventy 
Pennsylvania  regiments,  that  upon  our  soil  rolled  back  the  tide  of  rebel  invasion 
in  the  turning  battle  of  the  war,  the  great  diversity  of  opinion  as  to  the  particular 
study  (the  place  or  event)  which  should  bo  selected  as  the  great  theme  for  a 
picture,  all  have  concurred  to  cause  the  Committee  to  proceed  cautiously,  and 
more  time  must  necessarily  elapse  before  a  definite  judgment  can  be  reached  as  to 
what  shall  constitute  the  striking  features  and  leading  characteristics  of  the 
painting  or  paintings. 

The  Committee  have  been  strongly  impressed  with  the  view,  that  as  the 
Bubject  embraces  not  merely  a  single  battle  but  the  battles  of  Gettysburg,  involv- 
ing the  grand  martial  conflict  of  three  distinct  days,  each  of  which  takes  rank 
with  the  first  battles  of  the  world,  the  proper  and  BUCCessful  execution  of  the  work 
may  require  three  paintings,  -o  as  to  embody  a  theme  from  some  grand  epoch  of 
the  struggle  of  each  day. 

Since  the  Committee  were  in  conference  with  Major  General  Meade,  who 
kindly  offered  to  accompany  any  artists  of  distinguished  merit  to  the  battle  field, 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  all  needful  explanations  as  to  the  particular  and  striking 
incident-  of  the  three  day.-'  struggle,  he  has  been  called  away  on  duty  to  St.  Louis, 
and  as  an  accurate  representation  of  the  battle  field  with  its  scenery  can  be 
properly  taken  only  at  the  same  season  of  the  vear  in  which  the  battle  was  fought. 
the  visit  of  General  Meade  and  the  artists  may  be  deferred  until  the  month  of 
June  or  July. 

Several  Pennsylvania  artiste  of  high  reputation,  and  others  from  other  States, 
have  expressed  a  desire  to  be  entrusted  with  the  execution  of  the  work.  Tlu 
Committee  have  been  assured,  by  those  whose  judgments  are  entitled  to  confidence, 


34  / 

tln.t  in  our  own  State  there  may  be  found  artists  who  are  fully  equal  to  the  pre 
duetion  of  the  great  historical  painting  or  paintings,  which  should  chronicle  the 
battle  and  adorn  the  Capitol.  As  in  their  selection  they  should  call  to  their  aid 
studies  by  artists,  they  do  not  propose  to  confine  the  invitation  for  such  studies  to 
the  State. 

The  Committee  take  great  pleasure  in  expressing  their  acknowledgments  of 
the  deep  and  active  interest  taken  by  his  Excellency,  the  Governor,  in  the  subject 
committed  to  them,  and  for  the  many  valuable  suggestions  made  by  him  to  the 
Committee,  and  to  which  they  have  largely  deferred  in  the  effort  to  fulfil  the 
object  of  their  appointment. 

They  are  also  under  deep  obligations  to  Generals  Meade,  Hancock  and 
Crawford,  for  their  counsel,  which  was  essentially  important,  andtfor  the  volun- 
tary tender  of  their  time  and  services  for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  correct  artistic 
representation  of  this  the  greatest  battle  of  the  war.  They  are  also  much  indebted 
to  Joseph  Harrison,  Jr.,  Esq.,  a  well  known  citizen  of  Philadelphia,  for  bringing 
them  at  his  private  gallery  of  Art,  the  finest  in  the  State,  into  direct  intercourse 
with  a  number  of  gentlemen — with  the  works  of  the  most  eminent  artists,  and 
whose  suggestions  and  judgments  have  been  highly  serviceable  to  the  Committee. 

In  conclusion,  the  Committee  recommend  the  adoption  of  a  section  already 
inserted  in  the  general  appropriations,  viz.: 

Section  63.  That  the  Joint  Committee  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, appointed  for  the  purpose,  in  connection  with  the  Governor,  are  hereby 
authorised  and  empowered  to  procure  for  the  State,  Paintings  of  the  Battle  of 
Gettysburg,  not  exceeding  three,  with  authority  to  obtain  studies,  and  contract  for 
such  Paintings,  and  the  Governor  is  hereby  authorized  to  draw  the  moneys 
required  by  his  warrant  upon  the  State  Treasurer. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

Geo.  Connell,  J.  N.  Kerns, 

T>.  McConaughy,  A.  AV.  Markley, 

A.  Heistand  Glatz.  H.  Allen, 

Committee  of  the  Senate.  Committee  of  the  House  of  Reps. 

The  Legislature  took  no  further  action  on  the  subject,  and  on  the  12th  of 
April  adjourned  sine  die. 

Thus  it  will  be  observed  that  the  Joint  Committee  of  the  Legislature  was  a 
Commission.  The  subject  matter  and  the  nature  of  the  duties  to  be  discharged 
necessarily  placed  the  Committee  in  that  character.  The  act  of  the  Legislature 
creating  the  Commission,  and  the  highly  interesting  report  made  by  the  Commis- 
sion to  the  Legislature  two  days  previous  to  the  final  adjournment  of  the  session, 
show  that  the  Commission  was  vested  with  large  discretionary  powers,  some  of 
which  could  be  advantageously  exercised  only  at  that  season  of  the  year  when  the 
great  battle  was  fought.  The  authority  and  labors  of  the  Commission  would,  of 
course,  terminate  when  the  Pictures  of  the  battle  were  wholly  finished  by  the 
artist  and  ready  for  delivery. 

The  Commission  whose  names  are  attached  to  the  above  Report,  after  sub- 
mitting it,  lost  no  time  in  considering  the  various  claims  of  the  several  artists 
with  whom  they  had  been  brought  into  connection,  and  their  labors  in  the  matter 
of  ordering  the  picture  or  pictures,  illustrating  the  three  days'  struggle  at  Gettys- 
burg, resulted  in  making  the  following  contract  with  a  distinguished  artist  of  our 
own  State : 


35 
M  i  mi'Kamm  m  o»  a  Contract  kadi  bxtwi  i  h  thi  Bt  iti  01  Pbkmbylvanu 

\M>    P.    !■'.    RoTHEBHJ  i  .    FOB    l'\i\  i  inh     \    PXCTUBI    OB   l'u   PI  i;K-   01    TH] 

I'.ati ii  or  Gi  rn mi  bo, 

Mi  MuiiAM'i  m  of  agreemenl  entered  into  this  thirteenth  day  of  July,  A.  D. 
eighteen  hundred  and  >ixt\  -six,  by  and  between  the  undersigned  Joint  <  lommittee 
of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  ( Sommonwealth  of  Pennsylvania 
m  connection  with  the  Governor,  appointed  and  empowered  by  ad  of  Assembly 
to  contract  f<>r  and  procure  f>r  the  said  Commonwealth  a  historical  Painting  of 
the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  fought  In  July,  1863,  of  the  first  part,  and  P.  F. 
Bother  mel,  artist,  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  ofthe  second  park  It  i-  agreed  by 
the  said  Committee  and  Governor,  to  engage  and  contract  with  the  Raid  P.  F. 
Etothermel,  for  and  on  behalf  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  by  the  said  P.  F. 
Etothermel,  artist,  on  his  part,  to  undertake  to  execute  a  historical  painting  of  the 
Battle  of  Gettysburg,  fought  in  July,  A.  P.  1863,  upon  tin-  terms  and  condition! 
set  forth  In  iiu-  following  specifications,  to  wit:  First,  The  said  artist  undertakes 
to  execute  the  proposed  painting  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  in  tin-  lust  style  of 
liis  art,  dt"  a  size  not  loss  than  thirty  feet  in  Length  and  fifteen  feet  in  height;  the 
-Mini-  embracing  a  Landscape  View,  with  Battle  Scene  in  large  figures,  embodying 
rime  great  epoch  in  said  battle,  and  also  in  connection  therewith,  a  panel  border, 
not  less  than  three  feet  in  width,  extending  around  the  principal  painting,    Second, 

The  design  for  the  said  principal  painting  is  to  he  executed  by  the  said  artist,  first 
in  a  study  of  net  less  (6)  six  feet  in  length  by  (5)  five  feet  in  height;  which  study 
is  to  embrace  all  the  features  ofthe  proponed  painting,  on  a  reduced  scale.    The 

theme  or  subject  to  he  selected  by  the  said  (  oniniittee  and  ( iovcrnor,  in  consulta- 
tion with  the  said  artist,  and  to  conform  in  the  main  to  the  views  of  said  Com- 
mission. The  said  study  to  he  completed  within  one  year  from  the  date  of  this 
agreement;  which  study  shall  he  Bubject  to  the  approval  of  said  Committee,  and 
if  satisfactory  to  them  to  be  accepted,  hut  if  otherwise  not  to  be  accepted  until  the 
said  stuily  or  another  shall  he  made  satisfactory.  Three,  The  said  painting  is  to 
he,  in  artistic  merit,  equal  to  the  best  of  the  said  artist's  former  works,  and  in 
point  of  accuracy  to  be,  so  far  as  practicable,  historically  true,  which  requirements 
shall  be  indispensable  perquisites  to  its  acceptance.  Four,  The  panel  border  is  to 
contain  the  great  conflictsof  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  such  interesting  episodes 
as  shall  he  determined  by  the  Committee,  in  consultation  with  the  said  artist,  and 
with  like  condition  as  to  being  satisfactory,  as  in  the  case  of  the  principal  painting. 
Fifth,  The  price  to  be  paid  for  the  said  painting,  with  panel  verdu,  executed  as 
above  specified,  ami  executed  in  the  most  finished  style  of  his  art,  with  appropriate 
frame,  and  including  the  delivery  and  placing  ofthe  painting  in  the  State  Capitol 
in  a  place  to  be  designated  by  the  Committee  or  State  Authorities,  shall  be 
Twenty-five  Thousand  Dollars.  Sixth,  The  juice  shall  be  payable  as  follows,  to 
wit:  When  all  the  material  shall  have  been  obtained  ami  the  requisite  sketches 
completed  by  said  artist  and  the  execution  of  the  study  commenced,  Three  Thous- 
and Dollars  shall  be  paid;  when  the  study  shall  be  completed  and  accepted  by 
:lie  t  'oniniittee,  the  further  sum  of  Seven  Thousand  Dollar-,  ami  the  residue  of 
the  price  proportionally  with  the  progress  oi  the  work,  reserving  Ten  Thousand 
Dollars,  to  be  paid  upon  the  completion  and  delivery.  Seventh,  In  the  contin- 
gency ofthe  death  of  the  said  artist  during  the  progress  of  the  painting,  or  in  the 
■vent  of  his  failure,  from  any  cause,  to  commence,  to  progress  with,  or  to  finish  the 


36 

said  painting,  the  Committee  reserve  the  right  to  employ  such  artist  as  they  may 
select  to  proceed  with  and  complete  the  said  painting.  Eighth,  The  said  painting 
is  to  be  completed  and  delivered,  as  above  stipulated,  within  three  years  from  the 
date  of  this  agreement;  but  the  failure  of  the  said  artist  to  complete  it  within  said 
period  is  not  to  work  a  forfeiture  of  payment,  as  herein  stipulated,  without  six 
month's  notice  after  the  expiration  thereof;  that  such  forfeiture  will  result  in  the 
event  of  a  continued  failure  to  complete.  And  the  Committee  reserve  the  power 
for  a  sufficient  reason  now  unforseen,  should  such  arise,  to  make  a  reasonable 
extension  of  sucli  time,  so  that  the  whole  period  for  completion  shall  not  exceed 
Five  years  from  this  date.  Ninth,  The  said  Joint  Committee  and  Governor 
contract  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  obligate  the  said  Commonwealth  for 
the  performance  of  the  stipulations  above  made  on  its  behalf,  by  virtue  and 
pursuance  of  their  appointment  for  said  purpose,  and  of  the  provisions  of  the  Fifty 
ninth  section  of  the  Act  approved  the  eleventh  day  of  April,  A.  D.,  1866,  entitled 
an  Act  to  provide  for  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  Government  and  other  general 
and  specific  appropriations,  which  section  is  as  follows,  to  wit:  'Section  59.  That 
the  Joint  Committees  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  appointed  for 
the  purpose,  in  connection  with  the  Governor,  are  hereby  authorized  and  im- 
powered  to  procure  for  the  State  a  painting  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  with 
authority  to  obtain  studies  and  contract  for  such  painting,  and  the  Governor  is 
authorized  to  draw  the  moneys  required  by  his  warrants  upon  the  State  Treasurer.' 
In  testimony  of  which  agreement,  in  accordance  with  the  foregoing  specifications, 
the  said  Joint  Committees  and  said  Governor  and  the  said  artist  have  hereunto 
subscribed  their  names,  on  the  day  of  the  date  thereof. 

Attest,  Signed, 

J.   ROBLEY   DuNGLISON.  A.   G.   CCETIN, 

J.  F.  Habtranft.  Governor  of  Penna. 

Attest,  Signed, 

J.    RoBLEY   DUNGLISON.  GEOBGE   CoNNELL, 

J.  F.  Haetbanft.  D.  McConaughy, 

A.  Heist  and  Glatz, 

Senate  Committee. 
Signed, 

James  IS".  Keens, 
A.  D.  Mabkley, 
H.  Allen, 

House  Committee. 
Signed, 

P.   F.   ROTHEEMEL. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  unanimously  by  the  Commission  early  in  last  June, 
in  the  following  words:  "Philadelphia,  June  2, 1870.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mittee upon  the  painting  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  appointed  by  the  Legislature 
on  behalf  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  it  was  unanimously  Resolved,  That  in 
accordance  with  professional  usage  and  as  some  expression  of  our  high  apprecia- 
tion of  the  success  of  the  artist,  P.  F.  Rothermel,  in  the  execution  of  this  Great 
Historical  Painting,  this  Committee  by  this  action,  consent  and  authorize  the 
artist  to  exhibit  the  painting  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  in  such  of  the  cities  of 
this  State,  and  within  the  United  States,  as  shall  be  agreeable  to  him,  and  receive 


37 

the  proceeds  of  inch  exhibition  for  hi-  persons]  benefit  Lttett,  Greo.  Cornell, 
I >.  McConaughy,  James  N.  Kerns,  \.  D.  Afarkley,  \.  Seistand  Glata." 

The  Commission,  mindful  of  their  datiea   under  the  above   contract,  bad, 

individually   ami    collectively,    frequent    interviews    with    M  r  I lothemiel,    at    his 

studio  in  Philadelphia,  daring  the  several  years  that  the  picture  was  in  hand, 

thus  giving  much   time  ami   thought  to  the  BUbjeot,  although  their  term  of  i.tliee 

in  the  Legislature  bad  expired,  with  a  single  exception  (Mr  Connell)  long  before 

the  picture  was  finished.  They  are  still  giving  and  intend  to  give  their  attention 
to  the  work  committed  to  their  care,  until  the  artist  has  completed  in  a  satisfactory 
manner  the  smaller  pictures  included  in  the  contract.  How  well  the  <  iommission 
have  fulfilled  the  important  and  difficult  trust  which   the   Legislature  had   placed 

in  their  keeping,  the  finished  principal  picture  under  the  contract,  now  before  the 
public,  fully  bears  witness.  How  well  the  public  are  satisfied  with  their  labors, 
the  numbers  thai  daily  visit  the  exhibition  at  No.  1003  Chestnut  Btreet sufficiently 
testifies.    That  the  subordinate  pictures,  yet  to  be  completed  by  Mr  Rothermel  ■ 

will  he  equally  satisfactory  to  the  Commission  ami  to  the  public,  can  scarcely 
admit  of  a  douht. 

V-  the  picture  ncared  completion,  Mr  Rothermel's  numerous  friends  were 
desirous  that  it-  first  introduction  to  the  puhlic  should  be  done  in  such  a  manner 
as  would  mark  the  importance  of  the  event,  and  do  credit  to  our  State,  whose 
Legislature  had  ordered  the  work,  and  also  to  do  honor  to  the  artist  whose  genius 
had  so  well  fulfilled  the  task  assigned  to  him.  In  accordance  with  this  idea,  and 
under  the  auspice- of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  the  picture, 
was  unveiled  with  appropriate  ceremonies  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  on  the 
evening  of  December  20th,  1870,  before  an  enthusiastic  and  highly  appreciative 
audience.  Previous  to  this  merited  tribute  to  Mr  Rothermel,  Mr  Caleb  Cope, 
President  afthe  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  and  the  Committee  of  arrangements 
Messrs.  Claghorn,  Harrison  and  Struthers,  .assisted  by  Colonel  Wylie  Mitchell, 
and  Mes-r-.  James  S.  Martin  and  John  Rice,  endeavored  to  find  a  suitable  room 
to  exhibit  the  picture  to  the  general  public,  for  the  benefit  of  the  artist.  No  such 
place  being  available,  a  site  was  looked  for  in  a  proper  locality  on  which  to  erect  a 
temporary  gallery  for  this  purpose.  The  vacant  lot  of  ground  on  Chestnut  street, 
above  Tenth,  the  property  of  the  late  Miss  S.  L.  Kcene,  was  applied  for,  and  Mrs. 
Ellen  Keene  Mitchell,  the  executrix  of  the  estate,  with  the  approval  of  her 
counsel,  Henry  E.  Keene,  acceeded  to  the  solicitation,  and  cheerfully  gave  Mr. 
Rothermel  permission  to  occupy  the  lot  temporarily  for  the  exhibition  exclusively 
of  his  painting  of  the  ''Battle  of  I  -etty-burg." 


• 


.FROM  AN  UNPUBUSHtD  POEM,  BY  GENERAL  WM.  K  SMALL 


And  now  thy  crowning  labor  glads  the  eyes 
Of  thousands,  as  in  awe  or  pride  they  trace 

The  Field  of  Gettysburg,  in  tints  that  rise, 
All  life-like  from  the  canvas  and  the  place ; 

The  mortal  struggle  for  immortal  prize, 
The  agony  and  triumph,  face  to  face, 

Stand  out  before  us  to  inspire  anew, 

The  valor  that  is  ever  Freedom's  due! 

Who,  that  once  looks  upon  that  fearful  scene, 
Can  ere  forget  the  praise  and  honor  due, 

To  heroes  who  were  then,  as  they  had  been 

Through  years  of  strife,  to  Flag  and  Country  true: 

Their  pictured  story  shall,  forever  green, 
Preserve  their  actions,  and  in  every  hue, 

Hallow  the  virtues  that  proclaim  and  grace, 

The  glorious  record  of  a  noble  race. 

Oh  !  who  can  say  what  would  have  been  the  fate 

Of  this  great  nation,  if  the  bloody  tide, 
Which  then  rushed  headlong  on  our  startled  State, 

Had  not  been  bravely  checked  and  turned  aside? 
Our  cities  wasted,  fields  all  desolate, 

Our  Freedom  crushed  and  shorn  of  all  her  pride — 
But  for  that  Army,  gathered  in  our  need, 
Of" matchless  valor,  led  by  matchless  Meade. 

Then  give  our  thanks  to  God,  and  praise  to  those 
Stern  warriors,  who  stretched  their  hands  to  -live 

Our  Union  and  our  Liberties  from  foes, 
As  wild  in  faith,  as  they  were  madly  brave. 

And  as  we  mark  the  battle,  as  it  rose 

And  fell,  as  rolls  the  ocean  storm-lashed  wave, 

Depicted  here;  let  us  not  fail  to  yield 

Honor  to  him  who  liinn'd  the  immortal  field 


% 


I 


the  .Exhibition  is  open  daily, 


J  ROM   10    ^.    *JVL,  UNTIL  10    p.    ^4. 


(straEft.*a  Esea»TH33.) 


Price  of  Admission, 
Children  {under  10), 
Descriptive  Pamphlet, 


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— ^ 


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